Members of Oorali, Sholagar, Irular and Badaga tribal communities living in Sathyamangalam hills converged at Hasanur on Saturday to commemorate World Mother Language Day by deliberating on ways to safeguard their language, culture and their way of life, overcoming their downward economic spiral.
The programme organised jointly by the National Advocacy Council for Development of Indigenous People (NACDIP), National Adivasi Solidarity Council (NASC), and Thalavadi Adivasi Munnetra Sangam (TAMS) witnessed representatives of the tribal communities making a strong case for implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006, for their academic and economic betterment.
The Act provides for appointment of a teacher at the anganwadis run by Integrated Child Development Services to teach children in the pre-Dravidar languages spoken by the tribes, K. Krishnan, NASC, said.
A foundation in native language was necessary for the tribal children to acquire skills in other languages that are vital for their academic progress at a later stage.
There was an imperative need for the tribal communities to develop scripts so that the native wisdom pertaining to wild life, rain pattern and medicinal herbs could be transferred down the generations, Mr. Krishnan said.
Tribal people whose presence was necessary for safeguarding forest wealth ought to be well taken care of, Mr. Krishnan said.
Bhavani Sagar MLA P.L. Sundaram said preservation of native languages must be accorded prime importance since the thinking process takes place only in mother tongue.
The MLA wanted the State Government to implement the Forest Rights Act in letter and spirit.
Tribal people must learn to be assertive to pre-empt extinction of their cultures, Mr. Sundaram said.
Hassanur Ranger Palanichamy said Village Forest Committees were being enabled to access non-timber forest produce and derive optimal economic benefits without scope for involvement of intermediaries.
Tribal communities were being involved in conservation of forest wealth through their induction into the Department as tribal watchers and anti-poaching watchers.
A proposal for eco-tourism submitted to the government envisages creation of permanent employment opportunities for 200 members of tribal communities, Mr. Palanichamy said.
Village Forest Committees were functional in nine forest settlements in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and three in Gobichettipalayam, Special Tahsildar, Adi-Dravida Welfare, Sathyamangalam, Meekshi Sundaram said.
‘Foundation in native language necessary for tribal children to acquire skills in other languages’
