A study on ‘crop diversity and tribal empowerment in Kerala’ conducted on the tribal resettlement projects in the State found that most of these projects, implemented spending hundreds of crores of rupees, have failed to empower the tribal community.
A study on a major resettlement of tribals under the Western Ghat Development Programme in Attappady found that those uprooted from their traditional moorings had left the new homes and returned to the earlier habitat due to various reasons. The settlement projects taken up in tribals areas like Wayanad and Attappady suffered the same fate. They failed to improve the living conditions of the tribal people.
The study on the functioning of the Attappady Co-operative Farming Society (ATCOFARMS) by P.R.G. Mathur, Chairman, International Commission on Urgent Anthropological Research, South Indian Regional Centre, Palakkad, found that of the 420 tribal families settled under the scheme, 293 returned to their original habitat. Only 127 families remain in the project area now.
“The society was organised in 1976 for rehabilitation of 420 landless Irula and Muguda families of Attappady. Under the scheme 1,080 hectares of vested forest land under cultivation of cash crops like coffee, cardamom, pepper, nutmeg and clove was brought under the society, employing 420 tribal families as owner beneficiaries. It was estimated that two hectares of developed plantation could give subsistence to a tribal family. The project also provided for 50 cents per family to cultivate crops of their choice. The project was also expected to provide employment to another 1,500 tribals as casual labourers,” the report says.
The land allotted to the society for the setting up of farms is in Chindakki (230 hectares), Karuvara (120), Pothupady (440) and Varadimala (270). In these farms 420 houses were constructed but only 287 were occupied. The concrete houses were not to the taste of the tribals. There are complaints about improper site selection and poor levelling and preparation of land.
The tribal members have a lot of grievances regarding credit facilities, housing conditions, water supply, health care and wages.