Sam Daniel
Thursday, December 22, 2005 (Kalainar Nagar)
Last year's devastating tsunami has been a blessing in disguise for the Irula tribe in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.
Once an impoverished primitive community, now they have been provided with boats and nets.
Traditionally snake catchers, this community was forced to change occupations when the government banned snake catching. So while they moved to fishing, they had neither boats nor nets and remained frozen on the margins of society.
Dramatic change
The tsunami brought with it a dramatic change for the better. The Irulas were noticed by the district administration and given free boats and nets by NGOs, which have made a huge difference to their lives.
"Only after the tsunami, authorities got to know our plight. Although the country got freedom a long time ago, only the tsunami got us freedom," said a tribesman.
"After the tsunami our lives have turned better. Now we get to eat something regularly," said another tribe member.
Huge challenge
Not everyone in this 2,000 strong community, though, has been touched by change and drawing the adivasis into the mainstream has been a huge challenge for the district administration.
"Still the condition of Irula tribe is extremely backward. A lot needs to be done. This was an opportunity for us to improve their living conditions in consultation with them," said Gagandeep Singh Bedi, collector.
In the next few weeks, many of the Irulas will move from their huts to pucca structures thanks to the rehabilitation schemes.
The Irulas could possibly be the only community that could consider the tsunami to be a blessing in disguise. Their lives have undergone a sea change and they say they shall ever remain indebted to the tsunami for extricating them from the clutches of poverty.
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