PALAKKAD: The special packages implemented by the central and state governments since 2013 in Attapadi failed to solve the ongoing problems of tribal infant deaths, malnutrition and stunted growth of women and children, say tribal organizations and the former project officer of integrated tribal development project (ITDP).
On June 6, 2013, the then Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh at Agali along with then chief minister Oommen Chandy and four of his cabinet colleagues announced Rs 125 crore 5-point special package. A task force headed by SM Vijayanand, then additional secretary of the Union ministry of rural development, was formed to implement it within 18 months.
“The first and foremost starting point of the tragedy in Attapadi is the alienation of over 10,000 acre of tribal land. Unless we solve this crucial issue with a political will, no amount of development project will succeed,” Ramesh had said. He had announced Rs 50 crore for tribal land cultivation under Mahila Kisan Shakthikaran Paristhan to encourage tribal women. The fund from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Empowerment Guarantee scheme was also given for farming. An amount of Rs 50 crore for strengthening Kudumbashree project was also announced. An amount of Rs 15 crore for constructing 2,000 houses for tribes was also part of the central package.
This was followed up by a 12-point programme launched under the initiative of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after a three-day visit of TAK Nair, special adviser to PM. It’s first recommendation was to track 900-odd pregnant women, children below 12 months to prevent infant deaths and malnutrition. Though initially implemented, the PMO schemes were later discontinued. Ramesh also called for a monitoring committee for the implementation of the special package but no such monitoring followed, said PV Radhakrishnan, former project officer of ITDP during 2013-14. He said that Kerala high court had directed for social auditing of funds spent for tribal welfare in Attapadi. That was never done.
Another special package called Attapadi Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development project of Rs 52.12 crore was implemented during 2014-15 in which community kitchens were started. It aimed at “mobilizing 10,000 families of Irula, Muduga and Kurumba tribes.”
“But all these projects were empty packages as far as the tribal life of Attapadi is concerned,” said TR Chandran, state coordinator of Adivasi Bharat Mahasabha.
Presently, ministers and political leaders who visit Attapadi talk of more special packages. The latest was the demand of Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. But these packages are for more construction work and do not address the basic problems of the tribes like infant deaths, malnutrition, unemployment, lack of traditional farming, said a tribal activist KA Ramu.
