The Hindu : Tribals languishing in Sirumalai Hills

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Dindigul

Tribals languishing in Sirumalai Hills

By K. Raju

DINDIGUL, MARCH 13. Acute drought in the Sirumalai Hills has driven tribals to a pathetic condition. Hundreds of tribals living in the remote forests are struggling even for a square meal, as there are no forest produces to collect.

Tribal children have become mal-nutritious. Many parents are not sending their children to school. Medical facilities are also not within their reach.

Tribals have been living in clusters at Ponnurukki, Aralikadu, Velampannai, Thalakarai, Thenmalai, Vellimalai and many hamlets in the lower hills of Sirumalai since time immemorial.

Abundant natural wealth of the Sirumalai Hills was their only source of income. They collected forest produces such as date palm tree leaves for making broomstick, lime, amla, honey and gall-nut.

A systematic emasculation of forest wealth, converting large tracts of forest land into cultivable land, change in climatic condition, massive shifting towards mono-cropping pattern, denudation of flower-bearing trees and waning multi-cropping pattern affected the eco-system and disturbed the habitat of various natural friendly organisms. A massive felling of trees reduced the forest cover.

While landowners, mostly in Dindigul and neighbouring districts, left their barren land owing to water shortage, many people in the hill areas became jobless. The worst affected were the tribals in the interior hills. Acute drought had not only affected the yield of forest produces but also reduced the basic needs of the tribals.

"Tubers are the only source of food during summer. Unfortunately, they have become a rare commodity this summer. The quality and size of tubers are unfit for eating. Honey collection is not possible now, as bees have migrated in large scale to far-reaching places owing to destruction of flower-bearing trees," Palichammal said.

"Normally, we trek 10 km in the interior forests in search of food. We stay with our family in the forests for a week and return collecting forest produces. Sometimes, we return with empty hands. At that time, tribals with their children go to bed without food."

Veera Chinnu said she could not find many medicinal plants. Animals too were not in sight. Man-made forest fire for levelling the field for agri-purpose wiped out medicinal plants and endangered plant species in the hills. Kungiliam and Vengai trees vanished rapidly. Contractors cut branches of perennial trees for massive procurement.

However, after strenuous efforts, the tribals got identity cards from the Forest department for collecting forest produces. Unfortunately, there was nothing in the forest. They formed two women's groups and brought all tribal women under one umbrella.

They demanded that the Government offer them ration cards to buy rice through PDS shops and an SHG status to the women's groups to get micro-credits for a sustainable improvement.

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