Attappady meet draws up tribal development charter

Tribal leaders from across the State gathered in Attappady for a brainstorming session to identify and prioritise the development needs of tribal communities. The meeting, jointly organised by Thampu, a tribal welfare organisation, and Gothra Bhoomi publication, resulted in the preparation of a policy charter on land rights and tribal development, which will be submitted to the newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) government.

About 60 representatives from various tribal organisations and regions of the State participated, sharing concerns and experiences. The forum, titled “Ooru Jaddh”, sought to consolidate long-pending demands and chart a roadmap for the future development of tribal communities.

Inaugurating the event, Attappady block panchayat president Allan called for a long-term development framework for tribal communities and advocated a “Vision 2050” approach to empowerment and welfare. Thampu president Rajendra Prasad presided over the meeting. Tribal leaders Manish Sreekaryam, Binil Kumar, K.A. Ramu, Dr. Naveen, Chitra Nilambur and Revathy Udayakumar addressed the gathering.

Key challenges

Subsequent discussions focused on key challenges facing tribal communities, with representatives from organisations such as the Adivasi Action Council, Adivasi Aikyavedi, Mooppan’s Council and the Totem Resource Centre, Wayanad, taking part. Suggestions were also received from those unable to attend.

The deliberations culminated in a consolidated document, which a tribal delegation will submit to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, and the ministers in charge of SC/ST Welfare, Health and Home. The forum finalised 100 recommendations covering social justice, health, nutrition, education, housing, sanitation and drinking water and infrastructure.

Among the major recommendations are the allocation of one to five acres of land to each of Kerala’s 1,00,897 tribal families, measures to address landlessness as a key impediment to development, effective implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), strengthening of the Forest Rights Act and expansion of Forest Rights Committees, resolution of long-pending tribal land disputes through mechanisms including a judicial commission, and awareness campaigns on laws and welfare schemes in local tribal languages.