ATTAPADY – PROFILE

Attappady Block came into being in 1962 and the ITDP in 1976. It situates in the Western Ghats. Attappady Block consisting of Agali, Puthur and Sholayur Grama Panchayaths spreads over an area of 745 Sq. Kms. As it shares its boundary with Tamilnadu, its accessibility to Tamilnadu influences its socio-economic and cultural life.

Main source of income of scheduled tribes living in this area is from agriculture and allied sectors and collection of minor forest produce. Major chunk of minor forest produce collected in Kerala is from Attappady.

Lack of irrigation and deforestation are the serious constraints to Agricultural Development in this area. The main water sources are the river Bhavani, Siruvani and Varagar. In summer season these rivers remains almost lean and dry. The people resort to rain water and natural sources for drinking water and irrigation purposes. Revenue department ensures potable drinking water supply to Hamlets. Though there is scarcity of water, the people follow traditional style of cultivation. Cultivation of plaintain, Coconut, cereals, ragi are noticeable.  Along with agricultural activities cattle rearing is also the main source of income.

A considerable portion of population is tribes. Tribal Population in Attappady area is estimated as 32956 ie, 44% of total population. In 1951 their representation was 90.26% of the total population. The graph of tribal population tilted due to the mass influx of settlers both from the nearby Tamilnadu and other parts of Kerala. The tribal population is dwelling in 192 Ooru (Hamlets).

The main tribal communities in the area are Irula, Muduga and Kurumba – a P.V.T.G. Group. The socio economic status of the Kurumba community is backward when compared to other groups.

Literary rate among the tribes is not so high as the other sections of society. When the state’s literacy rate is 93.4%, tribes’ literary rate in Attappady is only 62%. The Kurumba – one of the most vulnerable group – is having literacy at the rate of 69.92 %. The other tribal groups – Irula, Muduga having 60.01% and 56.36% respectively – are lying back to Kurumba community in the realm of the literacy.  A statement showing population, hamlets and literacy rate is shown below:

Total Communities

Ooru (Community Basis)

Literacy Rate

The Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Local Self Development Department and other line Departments have been formulating and implementing a series of schemes for the development of tribes in Attappady. The Scheduled Tribes Development Department is imparting more emphasis on the educational upliftment of Tribal families. In Atappady the Scheduled Tribes Development Department is running a Model Residential School and 16 Pre metric Hostels. Apart from this, proposals for the starting one Model Residential School and 2 Post Matric  Hostels are under consideration of the Government.

The Scheduled Tribes Development Department is giving primary importance to provide social security to tribal families through Housing Schemes, Health and Hygiene, Self-employment programme, Infrastructural Development schemes, Irrigation, Electrification of  Houses, Hamlet Developments etc.

BASELINE DATA – ATTAPPADY