The Wayanad district administration is preparing to serve an Onam feast to selected tribal chieftains in the district at the Collectorate here on Friday.
As many as 10 chieftains of various tribes, including Paniya, Kurichya, Mullakuruma, Kattunaykka, Adiya, and Oorali Kuruma tribal sects, have been invited for the sumptuous feast as part of the Onam festival being organised by the district administration in association with Wayanad District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).
“The programme envisages to make the Collectorate a tribal-friendly office and ensure that various welfare funds reach the grassroots level, District Collector S. Suhas told The Hindu .
“The media and political parties have brought the issues of tribal people into my attention many times,” Mr. Suhas said.
“Even though these marginalised sections are facing various issues, including those related to the development of the their hamlets, no tribal chieftain or Ooru Moopan is yet to visit my office to submit a grievance,” Mr. Suhas said.
Tribal-friendly office
“I would like to make a core change in their attitude and make the Collectorate a tribal-friendly one,” he added.
The district administration had directed the Tribal Development Department officials to submit a list of the most backward hamlets of each tribe in the district and invite the chieftain of that hamlet for the programme.
Mr. Suhas will interact with the guests after the feast and identify their major issues, which would be solved in a time-bound manner.
“This interaction would not be a single-day process as there are more than 4,000 tribal hamlets in the district and each one has its own issues,” he said.
Proactive intervention of the chieftains would be ensured while executing comprehensive development projects in their hamlets,” he added.
