ATTAPADI
Attappadi is the land of Adivasis. It is in Mannarkad Taluk of Palaghat Dist. and it consists of three Panchayaths namely Agali, Pudur and Sholayur. Though there are only three panchayaths its area is 745 sq.km (equal to whole of Alapuzha Dist. in Kerala State,India). Over 10,000 Adivasi families live here in 187 tribal ooru (Tribal Settlements) scattered all over Attappady. A major part of this land is vested forest. The forest was destroyed by timber lobby and the hills are bare and that changed the climate and is now a dry place. Rain is a rare commodity here.
Tribes
There are 27121 people (41% of total population) in three tribes inhabit Attappadi.
According to the 1951 census 90.32% of the population was Tribes. They were reduced gradually because of the migration from Tamilnadu and from Other Parts of Kerala. In1961 they were reduced to 60.45% and in 1971 they were 41.2. But in 1981 they were at their lowest of 33%. The 1991 census show an increse in the ratio and they are 39.06%
The three tribes in Attappadi are Irula (84%), Muduga (10%) and Kurumba(06%). Irula tribe is the largest grope of three tribes in Attappadi and they are traditionally engaged in cultivation. The Mudugas have the highest rate of literacy and Kurumbas are the most primitive and they are still in the interior forest area. Kurumbas are shifting cultivators. The literacy rate of tribes is only 38.62%. A vast majority (above 80%) are below poverty line. The sex ratio among the tribals is 1000 males for 975 females. Each tribe has its own dialect for communication. There is not much communication between Erula and other two tribes. However, Kurumbas and Mudugas associate very closely and intermarriage between these two tribes is very common.
The Tribal’s once the only inhabitants of this land with about 10% of Dalits in 1951 are reduced to minority due to large scale Malayalee and Tamil migrations and this paved way for the destruction of Tribal life and forest in Attappadi.
Attappadi is the land of Adivasis. It is in Mannarkad Taluk of Palaghat Dist. and it consists of three Panchayaths namely Agali, Pudur and Sholayur. Though there are only three panchayaths its area is 745 sq.km (equal to whole of Alapuzha Dist. in Kerala State,India). Over 10,000 Adivasi families live here in 187 tribal ooru (Tribal Settlements) scattered all over Attappady. A major part of this land is vested forest. The forest was destroyed by timber lobby and the hills are bare and that changed the climate and is now a dry place. Rain is a rare commodity here.
Tribes
There are 27121 people (41% of total population) in three tribes inhabit Attappadi.
According to the 1951 census 90.32% of the population was Tribes. They were reduced gradually because of the migration from Tamilnadu and from Other Parts of Kerala. In1961 they were reduced to 60.45% and in 1971 they were 41.2. But in 1981 they were at their lowest of 33%. The 1991 census show an increse in the ratio and they are 39.06%
The three tribes in Attappadi are Irula (84%), Muduga (10%) and Kurumba(06%). Irula tribe is the largest grope of three tribes in Attappadi and they are traditionally engaged in cultivation. The Mudugas have the highest rate of literacy and Kurumbas are the most primitive and they are still in the interior forest area. Kurumbas are shifting cultivators. The literacy rate of tribes is only 38.62%. A vast majority (above 80%) are below poverty line. The sex ratio among the tribals is 1000 males for 975 females. Each tribe has its own dialect for communication. There is not much communication between Erula and other two tribes. However, Kurumbas and Mudugas associate very closely and intermarriage between these two tribes is very common.
The Tribal’s once the only inhabitants of this land with about 10% of Dalits in 1951 are reduced to minority due to large scale Malayalee and Tamil migrations and this paved way for the destruction of Tribal life and forest in Attappadi.
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4 comments:
12 March, 2009.
Dear James,
Peace.
I was very happy to see your blog on Attappadi with telling photographs and write-ups. You can be sure that I will follow it interest.We can be instruments of healing presence in the Internet world where there is a curious mixture of good and bad.
My fond hope is that others will follow your example of creative involvement in mission.
God bless!
--
Varghese Malpan, S.J.
Hekima College - Nairobi
Mobile: +254 - 737116665
My E-Mail: vmalpan@gmail.com
My blog URL: http://vmalpan.blogspot.com
Dear Fr.James,
Congratulation for the initiative that you have taken to implement the project for the upliftment of the tribes, by making them aware of their role and dignity in the society.
God's blessings in all your endeavours
With great admiration
Sr.Mercyan su,
Sr.Grasy Su,
Sr.Augusta Su.
dear james
your new initiative is praiseworthy. this is a medium to make the local issues into national one. continue the good work. my only suggestion is that let this be a platform to pass information about attapadi in general also.
with lots of love and admiration
fr. tj jose sj
Can anything be done to save attapadi now,...vast land area coupled with an inhibitants who were not empowered enough made this area ripe for exploitation.. If we dont learn lesson from this, its a forewarning for entire Kerala
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