They inhabit three states – Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Yet, Irula tribe didn’t exist for the world, especially the administration. That was until a film based on a true incident and the community – Jai Bhim – made it big on the world centerstage. People became aware of their pitiable conditions and even Tamil Nadu Chief Minister visited the community for the first time.
Irulas living in Chengalpet, a northern district of Tamil Nadu, were the victim of 2015 floods which washed away most of their houses. Nobody paid heed to their plight for past seven years until the current District Collector A.R. Rahul Nadh came to their recue.
LIFESTYLE
The community lives in abjext poverty and somehow make its ends meet. These people mostly inhabit the forest areas and are engaged in practices like snake catching etc. Some of them are even working as agricultural and daily wage labourers.
As these tribal families were living in the forest for a long time, Mr. Rahul Nadh found that these forest dwellers could be benefitted under the Forest Rights Act 2006. Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, IAS officer Mr Rahul Nadh said, “Under Tamil Nadu CM’s special scheme of providing housing facility to the tribals, around 35 houses have already been allotted.”
OTHER FACILITIES
Each house costed to around Rs 3 lakh. The administration deployed a contractor to build the houses as it was not possible for the Irulas to do it. A big community sanitary complex was also built at the instance of the DC, as these people had no toilet or sanitation facility.
Moreover, an overhead tank was also built to provide them clean drinking water. The officer not only wants to provide all the basic facilities to these tribal people but he also wanted their overall growth. The administration has enrolled many children in the Eklavya Model Residential School, a residential school especially for tribal children, to check school drop outs.
CELEBRATING PONGAL
It was a major shift in the lifestyle of Irulas of Chengalpet who had never experienced even these basic facilities. To make them feel even more special, DC Chengalpet Mr Rahul Nadh and minister Tha Mo Anbarasan celebrated Pongal festival with them after inaugurating their houses.
Many tribals became so emotional at the gesture that they broke down during the ceremony. Mr Nadh told Indian Masterminds, “I never felt happier. It was so gratifying to see such deprived people feeling happy and contended. They now have an existence of their own. For the World and for the Government too.”
