Tribals

          Tribals works are carried out in Jawadhi,Yellagiri,Kotagiri and Thalavadi hills. These centres cater for the education and employment of tribals, and the preservation of their spiritual, politiocsocio and cultural traditions, Their main priority is to mobilize all the tribals towards forming people’s structures and movements and to involve in common action for their own empowerment. Jawadhi Makkal Membattu Sangam, Karikaiyur Adivasi Sangam, Neelamalai Makkal Kootamaippu, Don Bosco Pazhamkuid Makkal Membattu Sangam are some of the people-based structures whose activities are all geard towards tribal development and empowerment. In the same sprit, total literacy of the tribal children is getting much attention due to their vulnerability and inequality of opportunities prevailing in the target area.

Animation

          The leader along with the community should clearly bear in mind that “the mission is entrusted to the community,“ (C44) and all should have a unified vision that does not distance itself from the original purpose of that particular mission, of empowering and animating that target group.

          We need to form and animate groups and initiate meaningful group activities that would promote an integrated human development of the tribal communities. We find four distinct groups that have to be animated in each of the villages. a.Youth; b.Children; c.Woman; d.Village elders. Our animation should be directed towards:

·         Providing better information and training on agriculture, afforestation, water management, etc., in order to the enrich their contribution to the country and to nature.

·         Helping the tribals preserve and upgrade their cultural and social heritage, in spite of the fast – spreading modernization and using them as bridge between the tribal people and the rest of the society.

·         Restoring a sense of dignity for their personhood and realize their power as a united community: they have to understand their rights and struggle through common action.

·         Joining hands with them to obtain the basic needs of house, education, health care, transportation and their right over minor forest resources and their value addition and marketing.

·         In solidarity with the children, work for their total literacy and the skill development and political awareness so that they can be integrated with the nation and their surrounding society and enjoy of opportunity and employment.

·         Initiating steps towards declaring all the Hills as Scheduled Areas and thus prevent land alienation.