In News:

In Tamil Nadu’s Kunnapattu, Irula families who have lived on the land for generations face eviction and denial of rights, as nearly half remain without legal ownership or recognition.

Who are the Irulas?

• Ethnic Group: Indigenous Dravidian community, primarily in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala.
• Constitutional Status: Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe and classified under Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Tamil Nadu.
• Population: Second largest Adivasi group in Tamil Nadu.
• Language: Speak Irula, a Dravidian language related to Tamil and Kannada.
• Traditional Occupations: Snake-catching, healing, collection of forest produce, cattle rearing, and agricultural labour.
• Religious Beliefs: Pantheistic with reverence for spirits; worship Kanniamma (virgin goddess associated with cobras).
• Living Structures: Reside in small clusters called mottas, typically located on hill edges near forests.

Irulas and Snake Venom Economy

• The Irula Snake Catchers’ Cooperative Society supplies nearly 80% of venom for the production of anti-snake venom (ASV) in India.
• The community uses traditional knowledge to locate and capture snakes humanely, extract venom, and release them safely.

The Crisis in Kunnapattu and Beyond

Core Issue: Denial of Land Rights

• In Kunnapattu village, near Mamallapuram, ~40 Irula families have lived for generations. However, nearly 20 families lack legal land documents (pattas).
• The land is classified as meikalporamboke (grazing land), making it ineligible for patta allocation under current policies.
• Without pattas, families are denied access to electricity, government housing, and welfare schemes.

Government Response

• Officials proposed relocation with promised housing and legal ownership, but Irulas resist displacement due to ancestral ties, rituals, and local livelihoods.
• Affected families submitted multiple petitions, seeking in-situ recognition rather than relocation.

Broader Pattern across Tamil Nadu

Similar Issues in Other Villages

• Ottiyambakkam, Iyankulam, Keerapakkam, Chinnakayar, and Nemmeli show the same trend: ancestral tribal settlements without legal tenure, facing:
  • Forced or incentivized relocation.
  • Inadequate or delayed infrastructure (roads, electricity, water).
  • Joint pattas that complicate individual welfare access.

Urbanization vs Indigenous Habitat

• Irula hamlets are increasingly surrounded or displaced by real estate developments.
• Some families resist high-rise housing due to loss of space, cultural disconnect, and impracticality for community rituals.

Notable Success: Senneri Model Village

• Near Chengalpattu, Senneri-Hanumantapuram-Dargesh is a model Irula settlement:
  • Home to Padma Shri awardees in snake-catching.
  • Over 10 active SHGs working in traditional medicine.
  • Gender-inclusive education and organized habitation.
• However, even here, funding and timely housing construction remain challenges.

Challenges and Needs

• Lack of individual pattas limits access to electricity, housing schemes (e.g., PMAY-G), water, sanitation, and health services.
• Infrastructural gaps persist even in relocated areas.
• Traditional knowledge and community bonds are under threat from urban pressures and displacement.