Tribal people continue to wallow in misery and are easy prey to sexual exploitation by lecherous men who approach them with false promises of a happy married life.
This is revealed in studies conducted by the Kerala State Women's Commission. The studies, covering the Commission's four years of activities from 2007 and published recently as a souvenir, reveal that social and economic problems among tribal women are compounded by the presence of a large number of unwed mothers in their midst. Atrocities against tribal women are on the rise. As much as 50 per cent of tribal women are subjected to sexual exploitation; and 53 per cent of unwed mothers are in 20 to 25 age group.
As much as 73 per cent of tribal women make a living as farmhands, earning wages as low as Rs.50. There are days when they have to go without even this meagre amount. About 97 per cent did not get work daily. It results in nearly half the population of tribal women remaining neck-deep in debt making them easy prey to wiles of non-tribal men. It may be low level of education – most of them had dropped out after primary level education – that made them surrender to machinations of non-tribal men.
Family survey
A family survey conducted by the Commission in Kodencherry and Karassery panchayats in Kozhikode district showed hardships that dogged tribal people were mainly due to lack of many basic facilities. The survey, which covered 382 families, found the average monthly income of nearly 83 per cent was as low as Rs.1,000. Half the population depended on springs for daily requirement of potable water and only for 42 per cent the source of water was public taps.
A majority were interested in cultivating land but did not have the required facilities. They also strongly felt the need for better medical facilities in their vicinity.
There was also an urgent need to find out how many had been issued title deeds for land and to undertake sustained campaigns in these panchayats to prevent illicit brewing and use of cannabis.
Welfare schemes
Successive governments had been taking actions for social and economic uplift of tribal people but these have not been enough to make any substantial change in their life. There are as many as 20 major schemes for welfare of tribal people in the UDF government's 100-day programme. The schemes announced by Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes P.K. Jayalakshmi recently include a rehabilitation package for tribal unwed mothers and redistribution of land to landless tribal families.
While announcing the schemes in Kasaragod recently, Ms. Jayalakshmi had confirmed that several cases of unwed tribal mothers had been detected and cases registered in Tirunelly, Kasaragod and Attappady.
The rehabilitation package envisaged distribution of land to landless unwed mothers and construction of houses for the homeless among them. Besides, livelihood programmes and financial assistance to their children to pursue education, a Mahila Sikshan Kendra, and a Short Stay Home Scheme would be implemented, the Minister had announced.
