Helping tribals with identity crisis

Chennai-based social activists Muthuram Narayanaswami and Uma Venkatachalam, have started an initiative called Nadaipathai Pookal with an aim to empower nomadic tribes in the city who don’t fall under any category of reservation. 

The couple who runs a charitable trust called Suyam, have been front-runners of many such initiatives, like providing education and medical assistance to the socially backward, conducting programmes to empowering women and running campaigns on social awareness across the city. 

“We are living in an age where identity plays a vital role in seeking jobs, education and even to buy a sim card. 

However, it is a matter of concern to see that more than one per cent of the population in Chennai lives sans an identity,” says Muthuram. “Maharashtra and Gujarat are the only states in India that has included NT (Nomadic Tribes) as a separate caste. 

We felt that they need an identity too. This population generally comprises mendicants and migrants who are called Naadodi Pazhangudiyinar , Kaatunayagan and Devara in Tamil Nadu.

They do not possess any form of citizenship proof like ration card, voter ID or Aadhaar card,” adds Uma. 

When we approach one of the tribals, who has benefited from the drive and ask him about his identity crisis, he says “I do not remember going to vote or buying groceries from a ration shop. We have always resorted to begging. 

My great-grandfather begged for a living, so do we, as we do not fall under any categories like SC/ ST/MBC to benefit from the entitled subsidies. But, I do not want my children to suffer the way we did.”

Starting with just 50 tribal families in 90s, the number has grown to 150 today. After years of intervention, the younger generations no longer resort to begging or scavenging. Children from most of these families are enrolled in schools and the women are educated on pre/post-natal care. “It has been a great experience even for us as individuals to see an entire community evolve. 

Currently, we are extending medical, employment and education related help to the kids and families. Apart from that, we are collaborating with different NGO’s and organisations to fight for their rights to identity by filing petitions,” says Uma. 

When we ask if they receive any Central aide, Muthuram says, “We seldom receive any support. The state government has been putting up requests for NT status to SC/ST council for several years now, but in vain. Additionally, lack of fully equipped Anthropology department in the state has limited the chances of government intervention, which is again seen as a drawback.”  

With the combined effort of Uma and Muthuram, a few of these tribal families have a voter ID and ration cards for themselves. 

“It was a five-year struggle to get these IDs. These people don’t have a community certificate yet, which can be provided only if the government implements a law,” says Uma To which Muthuram adds, “It is important for any citizen to be recognised and be able to exercise basic rights. 

We have been trying for decades and will continue our pursuit to empower these tribes to make them a legal national in our own minor ways possible.”