On 14-03-2018 Tribal Community Welfare Awareness Programme in Kalvoy village Kanchipuram District conducted :
Nivedita Foundation Director along with members and volunteers of Foundation organised Awareness Programme for welfare of Irular Tribal Community:
On 05-05-2018 Conducted Eye camp at Sirumalai covering 7 programme villages, Dindigul district, in collaboration with Arvind Eye Hospital, Madurai.
Prior to camp one week awareness programme was conducted by the Foundation in the tribal villages, for prevention of blindness. Total 113, persons got eye tested and remedial treatment. Arrangements were made for Cataract operation of 16 patients underwent cataract operation. persons those who were identified with cataract complaint. Successful cataract operation was carried out for 16 persons underwent cataract operation. The Eye camp was conducted for the first time since last two decades.
Organised free eye camp at sirumalai Dindigul on 5th May
125 patients, 13 have been picked up by Hospital staff for free cataract operation at aravind eye hospital Madurai. All 13 provided food by us. Very well organised.
There were seven counters starting from registration, eye test, doctors diagnosis, blood pressure and other check ups, councillors, nurses, coordinator, etc.
Very Good response from.local people, sponsor of van and other articles, Mike, room for stay, local forest staff support.
On 16-05 2018 Tribal Community Welfare Awareness Programme, in Manthittu Tribal settlement was conducted.
The inhabitants of this settlement are exploited in worst manner ever seen in any other tribal area.A detailed discussion with these MalaiMalasartribals were made and their problems and status of exploitation was learnt for future programme by the Foundation. Awareness programme for hygiene , health, education was held. All the inhabitants of settlement were given refreshments.
Our field program On 20-06-2018 at Palani Taluk
Palaru dam Paliyar tribal settlement adjacent to reserve forest of Pazhani range Kodaikanal forest division.The residents of this habitation themselves have put this board of Palaru Dam Paliyar tribe colony to pacify their agony. An informal enquiry was made by Nivedita Foundation Trustees.
Although almost all residents got Paliyar tribe community certificate, but the special tahsildar for SC-ST has given reply for Right to Information that in that habitation no tribal is available. If really this is followed by administration based on wrong report of Tahsildar,the genuine deserving tribals will be loosing all dues that they are entitled for.Nivedita FoundationTrichy is taking remedial measures. for such action as or when it is noticed.action for such injustice.
On 20-06-2018 & 21-06-2018 programme villages of Palani taluk were visited and awareness camp for Tribal Rights:
Awareness camp for were held at Puliampatti, Kuthiraiaru Dam, Palar Dam, and Kattalamparai settlement successfully . Managing Trustee along with Director and other members of Founadation held detailed discussion to study their present status of livelihood.
On 21.06.2018 & 22.06.2018 Managing Trustee
Joint Secretary along with voluteers visited Kuthiraiaru dam , Puliampatti and Kattalamparai Paliyar tribal habitation in Palani range , Kodaikanal division of Dindigul district. Grievances about refusal of Scheduled tribe community certificate and naming them at random scheduled caste. Awareness camp was held for their rights to collect minor forest produce and status of their livelihood was studied.
On 22nd August 2018 an awareness programe was organised by Nivedita Foundation, at Irular Tribal Habitation at Thularamkurichi .
Tribal habitation area Jayangondam, Ariyalur district .As introductory address to the inhabitants the Managing Trustee, Director and other Volunteers of Foundation enquired and discussed about the present living situation of the Irulars inhabitants. This area was already visited by the Managing Trustee, Director and other volunteers of Foundation during 2012 when Managing Trustee was Chief Conservator of Forests Planning Officer & Director was Range Officer, in planning wing of Tamil Nadu Forest Department. As during 2012 the TamilNadu Forest Corporation staff evicted them from Thularamkurichi reserved forest area destroying their land crops, wells and huts.
Thularamkurichi Irular habitation was selected for Awareness Programme at present to ward them off from further threat of eviction. All the recordical documents available with were perused in detail and further course of action was decided by Managing Trustee, and Foundation Director.
The awareness camp was mainly organised to monitor the protection of this inhabitant by making them to understand their Rights and Claims.
Further scope for better education and future prospects to emancipate their social status was studied and discussed with the prominent inhabitants of that area.
On 22 August 2018 managing trustee, joint secretary along with field officer and volunteers visted Thudiyankuzhi Irular tribal settlement adjacent to Satthambadi reserved forest at Udayarpalayam, Ariyalur District.
The villagers of the area get labour work in TamilNadu Forest Corporation area during 8 months annually. They are very satisfied with the concerned of MLA of this locality. Although schooling facility is available in this area but the standard of learning for the student is below average. The tribals informed that it will be useful for them to start additional tution classes for the school students to encourage them for continution for their studies.
On Jan2019 Survey and study visit in srivelliputhur wild life sanctuary.
In Jan2019 foundation trustees visted paliyar tribal settlement in sanctuary area , this sanctuary is the pioneer in giving forest rights to the tribals of all settlements. The trustees visited school maintain by Ramco Cements Limited , and studied about the management methods to maintain tribal Schools and Hostels.
on 23rd March 2019 Nivedita foundation Trustee members and volunteer visited Korakombu Paliyar tribal village at Kodaikanal Taluk.
Mainly they collect wild date palm leaves Phoenix loureiroi for making broom stick. For Rs.10,000/ leaves collected by group of villagers, they had to pay Rs.5000/ at forest check post on illegal demand against Tribal Forest Right Act. Besides for entering for labour work they are to pay first some amount taken from contra tor that is revovered from them by contractor in lieu of their labour work. The tribal leader man from Palani taluk narrates, he had to pay Rs. 70,000/ to Ranger, 15000/ to forester ,15,000/ to local broker and different rates to guard and forest watcher.They are to give free labour worth this amount.
Four paliyar tribal settlement in palani taluk in kodaikanal taluk division could not get tribal community despite does settlement are mentioned in forest working plan as tribal settlements, and Integrated Tribal Development project was implemented.
on 23rd March,2019 visit to Kannivadi area, Aruna Basu Sarcar
14 families are staying for last two years, in this dry hillock, huts are made, said to be with help of Periyasamy DMK, MLA and forest staff convinced them .They were staying their along with their agriculture land total 150 acre.are driven out from their original place at Kavuchukallu, panrimalai panchayat. Still another 14 families of paliyar tribals are staying in their land. Palanisamy the Thalaivar of habitation expressed justification of driving them out to facilitate school facility in the new shifted area.
On 1st June 2019, visited Vellimalai area at Kallakurichi. Kalrayan hills.
There are 182 tribal villages. Discussed with people.Their main grievances,forest check post does not allow to take instruments for utilising it to dig ore well in their agricultural field. Due to that water scarcity and affected their agriculture. Rate for gallnut is Rs.7/kg, phoenix leaves brooms are sold to trader in Rs.10/ i.e.one third of rate in Dindigul area. Want to sell at govt.rate to govt.agency.
On 31st May ,2019 evening Nivedita Foundation manging Trustee along with Trust volunteer and forest field staff visited Irularpalayam Irular tribe village in Villupuram Range of Villupuram Forest Division
Villagers were aggreived and agitated against forest officials. They expressed their agony about no government help for schooling, even a balwadi facility. The Village forest Council president could not speak out as all villagers accused him of swindling money along with forest officials. No welfare measures could be received by villagers, though it is programme village was adopted under TamilNadu Afforestation Project
on 23r Oct. 2019 Solaiyur tribal village, Bodinayakanur Range, Theni division
Siraikkadu tribal village, Theni division
Visit to Tamaraikkarai tribal , Bergur Range, migrated to this area 10 years back, although documents for having given community rights for collwction of NTFP, but is of no use. Impractically meagre are allotted without enquiring inhabitants.
On 22nd October, 2020, Nivedita foundation field officer visited Siraikkadu Paliyar tribal settlement to study the prevailing situation for income generation during Covid-19 period. During this period, the inhabitants have impro ed their livelihood income, after getting training from All Rural Development & Social Construction society through NABARD fund. Through.value addition training and proper tie-up for marketting was encouraging. They got Forest Rights to collect minor forest produce, without hindrance, and forst dept field staff paved the way to sell their produce without any obstruction.
Note for stranded tribals After getting the news about stranded tribal labours of TamilNadu , Nivedita Foundation contacted the news reporter. The foundation field officer contacted immediayely and pursuance was made to get e-pass from them to enable them to return their home in Jambamaruthur and Tiruvanamalai. The migrant tribal labours reached safely to their home.
on 22nd Oct.2020, Nivedita foundation field officer made a survey, in Bodinaickanur area for schools where tribal children are studying. The scope and utility of organising eye camp in that area. The Head Master of Pichchandi Middle school guided for welfare necessities for the deprived class children.
On 30-12-2020, Managing Trustee Nivedita Foundation Tiruchirapalli, visited Singhimara (Adivasi-Santhaleese ) in Gossaigaon Subdivision of Kokrajhar district in Bodoland area of Assam. A village of 40 families although.each family is having some agriculture land, but they manage drinking water from self dug well, water table is high.
Families dig their own well for drinking water and other purpose. Sufficeient rainwater availble for agriculture.
No school building , bamboo and tin shade structure for school purpose, one govt. appointed teacher.
Half done construction for the purpose of cooking for balwadi. Due to.Covid now food supply stopped.
Typical art structure in their houses made of mud and colour .
Brooms made by women, after collecting grass from forest area.one broo m sold Rs.50/ .
Santhaleese Adivasi. boy Jangal Mardi, from interior forest village, got first class throughout his studies, now doing Masters in Economics. All Assam Santhaleese Students Association has been giving him for studies with financial assistance. Jangal told he aims for Assam.Civil Service. He gives coaching to Santhaleese school.children at Gossaigaon town.
On 14.02.2021 at Palani Taluk of Dindigul district, Free Eye camp was organised at Guruvappa Higher Secondary school.Correspondent Mr.M.Rajkumar and their staff along with N.C.C.cadets participated with full support and provided several facilities.
Van was arranged to by Nivedita Foundation for transport of Malaimalasar and Paliyar tribals from remote areas of Palani hill forest areas . Local forest field staff of Kuzhumam Forest range coordinated the eye camp programme.
69 persons screened, 7 persons taken by Aravind Eye hospital Madurai for cataract operation.
Propaganda for free eye treatment camp to be held in Pazhani taluk, propaganda by Nivedita foundation.
பழனியில் மலைவாழ் மக்களுக்கு சிறப்பு கண் சிகிச்சை முகாம் .
on May 2021 , An amount of Rs. 12,500/ was given to Mrs. A.Sathya wife of volunteer Nivedita Foundation, Thiru Annamalai, towards corona relief.
Korakkombu Paliyar tribal village , Kodaikkanal taluk, Dindigul .Survey on Marketting of Date Palm leaf Minor Forest Produce , collected from forest , a source of livelihood. One such bunch is sold Rs. 50/.
On 27-07-2021 Kadaisikadu tribal village meeting with field officer.
Kadaisikadu Paliyar tribal village , Oddanchattiram Taluk, Dindigul.division.
Representation to dissolve Village Forest Council given to field officer of Nivedita Foundation.
On 17-07-2021 field officer visited Rasimalai colony , where Paliyar tribals gave representation to Field officer, regarding dissolution of Village forest committe for fair marketting of M.F.P., though no visible development activity by VFC could be identified
Houses in R.F area is costructed by Slum clearance board in Devadanpatti, Vellagavi R.F of Kodaikanal division. The letter given to poor Paliyar tribe inhabitants by Slum Clearance board to remit Rs.2.49 lakhs.The scheme applied for them is not in order, as they are supposed to get houses free of cost.
On 28th Sept,rice , essential grocery items and soaps were distributed to 20 Malaimalasar families in Manthittu tribal settlement in Andipatti village of Palani Range in Dindigul district.
This tribal settlement comes under Kollumam range of Anamakai Tiger reserve.
Not a single individual is literate here, and they struggle for swuare meals everyday.
Though on paper Forest Rights for tribals are available,but they continue to remain as extremy lowly paid labour and amount to be bonded labour under the a middleman Natarajan,
who first entered in this settlement as Prsident of Village forest Committee swindling all the income meant for these people.
Now he is the middleman, who got uniterrupted right to exploit these tribals with the support if local field staff.
Minthittu tribal habitation, explaining their plight about clutches of middle man, turned as bonded labour,
with the particpation of local field staff. All produce collected from reserve forest has to be handed over to a single middleman at miserably lowest rate.
The middleman got the authority of illegal collection of forest produce and exploiting these tribals from local field officials for more than last 10 years.
A case of Atrocities against Scheduled tribes 1986 Act.
On 30th November2021 attended All TamilNadu Tribals Seminar organised by Social Watch,Tamilnadu at Santhome, Chennai. And spoke about tribal rights act implementation. Participated as Chief orator and to clarify rules and emancipation measures for TamilNadu tribes.
More than 200 tribal leaders from districts of Tamil Nadu participated in the seminar.
Making to understand about legal rights of tribals for free transist of forest produce as the part of forest right act and explained further strategies to achieve the goal.
On 7th Jan 2022 organised distribution rice and esstinal grocery items 25 poorest fisher woman’s family in Vellivayal sea-shore village,Pattukottai TK, Near Rajamadam. All the familes are below poverty line.
On 7th January 2021 visited Well manage elementary school with students and teachers in Vellivayal village.
On 7th Jan 2022 visited Managing Trustee along with volunteers visited Vallampudur area,learn about child abuse by Irulars trubes were are they pledge their children bonded labourers.
visited Well managed elementary school.
It was observed after communicating with migrant rural tribes that they utilize their children as source of income and not interested to give them nourishment or education. The two adjacent huts of rural families have escaped after knowing that trafficking of their own children is known to administration. It is felt as there is punishment in law for cruelty against animals, similar law is to be implemented for such parents and other people indulged in inhuman cruelty with the children.
Research paper Authors Dr.Aruna Basu Sarcar Managing Trustee , Dr.Manoj Kumar Sarkar Founder of Nivedita Foundation.
Published in the Oldest International Peer Reviewed Forestry Journal ” The Indian Forester” published by Forest Research Institute,Dehradun ,India. Download
On 04-02-2022, training and workshop was organised by Nivedita Foundation Trichy at Pacchamalai Top Sengattupatti, Trichy. Malayali tribe community people attended the workshop.Different steps to process to get Forest Rights were explained by Managing Trustee and Mr.J.Elangovan Joint Secretary Nivedita foundation. Necessary application forms were provided by the Trust to villagers to proceed for getting Forest Rights.
Forest Rights Act training with villagers and Panchayat president at Jamnamaruthur in Feb.2022
On 04-02-2022, training and workshop was organised by Nivedita Foundation Trichy at Pacchamalai Top Sengattupatti, Trichy. Malayali tribe community people attended the workshop. Different steps to process to get Forest Rights were explained by Managing Trustee and Mr.J.Elangovan Joint Secretary Nivedita foundation. Necessary application forms were provided by the Trust to villagers to proceed for getting Forest Rights.
Visited Ootthatthur village near Padalur, Trichy district on 8th August 2022, visited Balwadi, well maintained. In 2004 Managing Trustee visited this village in a school function, and learnt rate of suicide cases were very high about 20/ year. Now visited this village on 8th Aug 2022, had discussion with Panchayat president. Now, He told rate of Suicide is reduced to 5cases/ year. Mostly suicide committed by young girls, got married at teen age.
09-08-2022 – Article by Chairperson cum- Managing Trustee Dt.Aruna Basu Sarkar IFS.,(rtd)
1-10-2002- News item in Times of India, efforts of Managing Trustee for getting communitee certificate of Paliare tibals through Media
On 15-09-2022 – Founder and Managing Trustee Nivedita Foundation, Trichy, visited at Sarada Ashram, Kutrallam, Rice and grocery items was handed over from Nivedita Foundation for orphan and poor children staying in Asram and getting education
15-09-2022 – Rice and grocery item distributed to 42 poor Paliyar tribal families of Kalaiman Nagar, Kadainallur Forest Range, Tirunelveli Sponsored by in-laws family of Late U.Ravindran IFS and Nivedita Foundation. The function was organised by Nivedita Foundation in collaboration of T.N.forest dept officials of Tirunelveli.
16.09.2022 – at Agasthiar Kani Kudi-iruppu, Mundanthurai Discussion by Founder and Managing Trustee with Kani Tribal leader regarding different efforts taken for Forest Rights by this tribal settlement.
16-09-2022 – Servalar Kanikudi iruppu interviewing inhabitants about plight of Forest Rights for them.
16-09-2022- New sarees and grocery items worth Rs.400/ were distributed to 10 families of Injikuli Kani kudi iruppu of Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve on 24/09/2022.
06-11-2022- At Subbiah Memorial Middle School, Thennur, Trichy- Free Eye screening and treatment camp at Trichy, sponsored by Nivedita Foundation, Trichy in collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai.
06-11-2022- At Suppiah Middle School, Thennur, Trichy- Free Eye screening and treatment camp at Trichy, sponsored by Nivedita Foundation, Trichy in collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai. 142 persons got screened , 26 persons taken for free cataract operation at Aravind Madurai Eye hospital.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Sruti & Dr Divya attended the camp along with 17 nurses and assistants. Photos of Cataract patients with Ophthalmologists and Managing Trustee in Nivedita Foundation Trichy.
Team of Volunteers of Nivedita foundation, Trichy during Eye Camp at Tennur, Trichy.
Dinamani Daily 07-11-2022
29th January 2023 Palani Range of Kodaikanal division and distributed groceries and other essential items to 25 Paliyar tribal families.They are denied of getting ST Community certificate by revenue officials on
29/01/2023 visited Puliyampatti Tribal Settlement
30/1/2023 Kuthiyaru dam KC patti Paliyar settlement explaining about Forest Rights and how to get community certificate a Volunteer explain
Kuthiraiyaru dam paliyar tribal settlement not a single resident could get S.T.certificate could despite last two decade repeated appeal to revenue officials, however it is one of the hamlets where integrated tribal development project was implemented by TamilNadu Forest Department during 2007-2008.
