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Kerala tribe on the brink of extinction

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Committee of the Kerala assembly has reported that Malamuthan, a tribe in Malappuram district, is facing extinction due to abject poverty, excessive drinking and other factors.

In its 10th report, the panel headed by C P Balan Vaidyar found that some members of the community at Myladi in Oorgattiri panchayat died of poverty. The official claim was that the deaths were due to "other reasons."

The Committee started the probe following press reports in July 1998. It found that the population of the rare tribe had reduced considerably. Poverty was a major reason. According to the 1992 survey, there were 47 members. Over the last eight years, one fourth of this has vanished, the report said.

"It is doubtful whether they can afford one meal a day. Black coffee is the sole "food" for them on many days and that too with salt added for want of sugar," the report said.

Another woe plaguing the community was excessive drinking habits, among both males and females. The illiterate tribals were exploited as consumers for illicit liquor, the committee noted, calling for stern measures by the excise department.

Interestingly, the community was not included in the scheduled caste list and not entitled to any privileges. Earlier, they were given certificates under the 'Muthuvan' category. However, following some reports that Muthuvans existed only in Idukki district, the authorities had stopped issuing such certificates.

Prominent among the other issues the community faces were the absence of roads, lack of even basic education, exploitation by outsiders, mismanagement of funds by officials and absence of steady income sources and basic amenities, the panel noted.

Concluding that the community was facing the threat of extinction mainly due to poverty, the panel called for issuing health cards and routine medical check-ups. It also recommended its inclusion in the SC/ST list.

Three dams were constructed at a cost of Rs 100,000, ostensibly for their welfare. If the amount had been deposited in the bank in the name of each family, their plight would have been far better, the committee said.

It also demanded an inquiry into attempts to capture their lands by outsiders.

UNI

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