Community Intervention program for Irulas community

Irular means "dark people" in Tamil and Malayalam, from the root word irul, meaning "darkness", (dark skin complexion) People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular and speak Irula, a Dravidian language that is closely related to Tamil. Irular lives in two south Indian states – Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and they belong to the Dravidian family. A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at around 50,000 people. In Tiruvannamalai, there are around 11,000 people. The Primitive tribal’s (Irular Community) main occupation and also they lived by hunting reptiles, primarily snakes, rat-catching, and honey collection. Living in caves, they used to hunt and procure forest resources. They were descendants of Romani. Due to the scarcity of bamboos, they began to build huts with soil and stones.

Irular who live in the mountains believes that there is a life after death. But the death that separates them from these mountains should lead them to eternal light instead of darkness. When the hills were occupied by the people of the valley, Irular drew back to interior woods. Later, they came out and started living in the underprivileged areas and near the river banks, Lake and ponds in the villages. They also work as laborers (coolies) in the fields of the landlords during the sowing and harvesting seasons or in the rice mills. As their clan is on the verge of extinction due to seasonal conditions, they make their living by occasionally doing the work available to them such as fishing, logging, agricultural labour, daily wage in rice mills, brick kiln, etc.Construction of houses for the Irula community in Ponnur village near Vandavasi is nearing completion. The residents, mainly those from the Irula community, residing in dilapidated houses in Ponnur village of Vandavasi taluk, were the beneficiaries of schemes such as the Chief Minister Housing Scheme and the Pradhan MantriAwasYojana.

All basic amenities would be provided to the people and the only thing they have to do is to send their children to school. on 15th June TDHC and EDP started our first Special Tuition centre for Irular community children called as Bridge School ( Irular Education Empowerment Project) on behalf of District Rural Development Agency Project Director Mrs. Jeyasudha , who is Deputy Collector of Tiruvannamalai and TDH CORE Director Mr. R.Chezhian.

our Tdhc staffs are and Director Mr. Chezhian sir is good. I happily share our Irular Children Education Empowerment Project two Bridge school centre activity ( Ponnur and Kasthampadi). Ponnur centre has 52 children and Kasthampadi centre 35 children getting basic education and nutrition from our supports. At present they don’t have regular school due to this Pandemic situation. While our two bridge school teachers have been taken morel education, how to charge their behaviours, how to maintain proper hygienic, and teach morel stories telling. All the children are very happy and participating in this event. We regularly follow up these two centre activities and giving guidance to Director Mr Chezhian sir.

We create a WhatsApp group( Tdhc – EDP Bridge School) for sharing their regular activities for administration and guidance purpose. It's easy to share daily activities and share your valuable feedbacks and follow up this Irular children education empowerment.

Our Two bridge school concept, we have given special tuition to children with support from our teacher at Evening time. There is teaching life skills orientation, basic Education, monitoring children's health and hygiene, and ensuring their care and protection. So teachers should be going to a formal school to monitor their education continuity without having school dropouts in the Irular community; therefore, the teacher and Coordinator should be gathering Irular community people to give orientation about government livelihood schemes and ling with the government department for community people will get benefits. Unfortunately, here COVID 19 situation, all the schools closed in Tamil Nadu. We already found out many children were school dropouts; only their name has enrolled in nearby schools. After our intervention on June 15th, 2020, we started our Bridge school centre morning from 9.30 AM to 12.PM until re-open formal schools. At present, Kasthampadi (35) and Ponnur (48) children studying in our Bridge school (3 to 18 years old children).

After this COVID 19 situation, if it becomes normal in India, we will enrol our tuition centre children in normal school and monitor their education performance, regular school attendance and fulfil their educational needs. We could change our special tuition centre time evening from 4.30 PM to 6.30 PM forgive additional support like life skills and education couching. First Information Report details & Normal school Details (Will Enrol in Elementary English medium school news After COVID 19 situation). We sent 25 long time sponsorship children First Information Reports of Kasthampadi and Ponnurcentre (family history, children health, and Education, present Situation). They all are below 10 years old, education and nutrition needy children. We choose 5 children from Kasthampadi, and 7 children choose from Ponnur to enrol in nearby Formal Elementary English medium schools. We will give a strong education foundation (LKG (Little Kinder Garden) to 1st standard) 3 years to 5 years old children. It will take a long time because Tamil Nadu Government announced all the school is shut down up to COVID 19 Normal situation.

They all never attain school only enrolAnganwadicenter to fulfil basic nutrition without Education, because of COVID 19 lockdown. They all are getting basic Education from our bridge school centre. Other children come under more vulnerable and malnutrition needy categories; they will be re-enrol in nearby middle school. Also, they all need our special support to fulfil their nutrition and regular education. Yearly once we will give above the children Follow up reports with children's developments.