Thampu (A National Trust for Tribal education, Development and Research) is a shelter home especially for the rights of the tribal in Attappadi and today Thampu has an active participation in other regions of tribal presence like, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasargod and Malappuram etc. We gratefully remember the late Hon. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer who inspired and guided us in this effort of establishing Thampu. It was in the 1990s that THAMPU commenced its activities. However, it was formed into an organization only in 2002. Thampu has its publication named Gothrabhoomi which depicts the life of tribal to the external world. THAMPU has been an active presence in the tribal villages since then. Studies reveal there has been a substantial increase in the number of tribal votes polled in the 2011 (assembly) and 2015 (local bodies) elections. THAMPU has been instrumental in stimulating and augmenting the involvement of the tribal population in the democratic process.
THAMPU is presided by Sri. Rajendraprasad, who is an adivasi activist, writer, and the editor of Gothrabhoomi magazine. Manesh N. Krishna is the secretary. The seven member leadership team of THAMPU includes well-known tribal activists K.A. Ramu and Vasantha Krishnan. The advisory council consists of experts in social, cultural, and legal domains including P.V. Rajagopal, prominent Gandhian and member of National Council for Land Reforms. Even though it was not formally registered until 2002, THAMPU has been actively working among the tribals for the last 30 years.
A Social Workshop
November 14, 2015 – A press meet of a group of children from the tribal, dalit, and fishing belt was held in Press Club, Ernakulam. “Can you understand if I talk in our language?” asked Ponmani from Attappady in her native Irula tribal dialect. The language she spoke sounded strange and surprised the journalists. She raised that question in her native tongue with a purpose – to draw attention to the problems that they face in the tribal belt, that the biggest challenge they face in the primary classes is that of the medium of instruction. She explained the challenges they face in communicating with teachers who do not understand their tribal dialect. That was a revelation of denial of right to education in their mother tongue.
Ponmani, a 16-year-old girl is the secretary Karthumbi, a children’s cultural association under the wings of THAMPU, an organization that strive to achieve the educational rights of children in the tribal regions of Kerala.
Karthumbi
Karthumbi, a children’s association, is active in all the main tribal settlements in Kerala, including Attappady. Karthumbi imparts the newer generation the multifarious tribal streams of ancient art forms, traditional knowledge, and oral lores that face the threat of dissolving into oblivion. This enables the children to realize the deepness of their sociocultural heritage. More than 2000 tribal children are active participants in Karthumbi in Attappady alone. Karthumbi is actively engaged in around 60 tribal villages in Attappady. They meet once a week to discuss the issues they face. Prominent social and cultural figures from the state, academic and health experts, and headmen from other tribal areas often participate in Karthumbi camps. Apart from THAMPU volunteers, Karthumbi also has abundant support from the mothers’ group Taayaru Ottimai and tribal headmen. “Tree – A Boon,” an annual get-together of children, prepares them to be the wardens of environmental protection.
The plant nursery in Kallakkara on the banks of Siruvani river is an outcome of their efforts. Children plant saplings from the nursery in different tribal villages. The objective is to prevent drying up of Bhavani and Siruvani rivers, the prime sources of water for Attappady. Guidance of the Greenvein Foundation strengthens this mission. Lighting the torch of knowledge, Karthumbi is starting community libraries in the tribal villages of Attapppay, imbibing the dictum “letters, the weapons to avenge hunger.”
Karthumbi Childrens Collective
Gaavu (The Sage of Sacrifice)
It was in preparation of making a film portraying the issues encountered by the children in Attappady that THAMPU collected information on children dropping out of school in 90 tribal villages in Attappady. The story of the movie Gaavu was based on the study we conducted and the letters from Mashani, a girl from Paloor who used to regularly write to THAMPU detailing the troubles and hardships she had to endure in the gounder household in Coimbatore where she was working. The word gaavu means sacrifice.We came into contact with many more children like Mashani in various tribal villages.
The 30-minute film captures 3 days in the lives of the girls Valli and Tulasi, who are friends and dropouts from Kottathara school. The film brings into public discussion the circumstances in which children are forced to discontinue schooling and the perils of exploitation, outrages, and bonded labour that prowl them. The film achieved its goal and the government intervened in the issue.
The Mind and Soul of Attappady
From the Gaavu experience, THAMPU realized the necessity of working among children of Attappady and a decision was made to that effect.
Malnutrition and Infant Deaths
It was THAMPU that brought rampant infant deaths in Attappady into public notice. The shockingly pitiable state of primary health centres and ICDS centres in tribal regions was exposed. The disclosure of 112 infant deaths and more than 200 fetal deaths in Attappady during a short span of 3 years (2012-2015) triggered a public debate. This led to the flow of crores of Rupees of government aid to Attappady. However, infant deaths continue unabated still. In 2015, Attappady witnessed 24 infant deaths. This points to the necessity of viewing the issues encountered by tribals from their vantage point. THAMPU conducted 2 medical camps in Attappady, brought the problems actually faced by tribal children to public attention, and published the study “The Questions Raised by Attappady.” The central and state governments made urgent interventions to rein infant mortality. Special programmes were devised at an expenditure of Rs. 300 crores and ICDS centres, primary health centres, and tribal speciality hospitals were renovated and modernized. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre and Community Kitchen were started.
The tribal communities continue struggle in disgraceful circumstances despite millions being spent on improving their living standards. Education is the only source of strength that can empower them to do this. It is only after the exposure of high infant mortality in Attappady that the state government devised various programmes including Kerala State Child Rights Commission, food and nutrition policy, and introduced Kudumbasree in tribal regions.
WHO and Child Care
Malnutrition, availability of potable water, and child marriages are the children’s right issues that WHO pointed out with respect to Kerala. All the three are predominantly tribal issues. As a child rights organization, THAMPU notably intervened to raise the first two issues.
Right to Education Act and Tribal Children
THAMPU conducted awareness classes for tribal villages and Karthumbi associates on Right to Education Act and its impact on the tribal regions. Over the last many years, THAMPU and other social organizations have been demanding that primary schools be started in place of the 354 MGLCs in Kerala. Amidst these protests, the right for primary schools was legally protected with the implementation of Right to Education Act in 2009. It was the persistent protests and demonstrations of organizations including THAMPU that prompted the government to announce the decision to start 111 primary schools instead of the MGLCS (GO. MS 44/14/G Edu-Dated 1st March 2014). Education is the only path to emancipation of a society.
Forest Rights Act and Land Ownership
Legal awareness camps conducted in the villages – both before and after the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 – played a vital role in creating awareness among the tribal population of their rights. Tribal councils and mothers’ groups (Taayaru Ottimai) were trained in the applicable laws. Through this movement, tribal population gained ownership of land in excess of 1000 acres. Apart from Attappady, THAMPU associated with other social organizations to create awareness about forest rights in Kannur, Kasaragod, and Idukki as well. The law was translated to Malayalam and distributed in the tribal villages. Legal awareness classes were conducted in tribal dialects. The demand for formation of Forest Rights Committees through the tribal councils (oorukoottam) was accomplished through government order (28/07/2008 GO-2941/2008/LSGD). Thus, tribals came into ownership of 12652.22 acres of land through 8222 possession certificates. The realization that welfare of children cannot be segregated from that of that of the society of their origin reinforces the interventions of THAMPU on behalf of the tribal community.
Street play
Attappady in State Budget
THAMPU as a social organization was successful in raising the issue such that programmes for tribal development in Attappady found a place in budget allocations. A sum of Rupees 15 crores was set apart for child welfare in the budget. The allocation for tribal welfare was increased from 2% to 35.
Legal Interventions
THAMPU has been successful in creating legal awareness among the tribal community by conducting legal literacy classes in the villages. The organization filed public interest litigation in the High Court demanding safeguarding the health care needs of the tribal population in Attappady. THAMPU filed another PIL demanding bringing all the orphanages under the purview of Juvenile Justice Act. It was while considering this case that the Court ordered CBI enquiry into trafficking of children from other states to orphanages in Kerala). THAMPU also conducts classes in tribal villages and for social activists to create awareness on the service rendered by National Human Rights Commission, National Child Rights Commission, and National Commission for Women. The organization mediates between village councils, panchayat councils, legislative assembly, and the parliament to discuss issues related to tribals.
Delhi Minister Shri. Arvind Kejriwal, Rajendraprasad Dr. P. V. Rajagopal and Justice V. R. Krishna Iyyer
And Aneesh
A Sign of Solidarity
There are many social and cultural leaders, legal experts, retired judges, journalists, heads of local bodies, and officials of various departments who guided, supported and molded THAMPU in its evolution as a social organization. An outstanding figure is the late Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer. If THAMPU has made a mark in the tribal society, we are indebted to all our volunteers who keep the organization dynamic with relentless studies, observations, debates, corrections, and an open-minded approach to issues. We are thankful to all who supported us in this journey and request your continued support and cooperation. THUMPU is only a sign of solidarity; we welcome you all to it.