KOCHI: The Joint Action Council of Dalits and Adivasis has demanded conversion of the ready-to-be-operational Kerala Gothra Paithruka Kendram, a heritage museum on indigenous people, on Foreshore Road into a post-metric hostel for tribal students.
Maintaining that tribal students from far-off places were forced to discontinue studies for want of adequate hostel facilities in the city, the council said the museum, constructed at a cost of ₹50 crore, should be made a hostel, also equipped with a skill training centre, finishing school, and a coaching centre for entrance to institutes of excellence. “Estimates suggest that some 20 tribal students dropped out for want of accommodation this academic year alone,” the council said.
A march was taken out with the demand on Monday. Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha State coordinator M. Geethanandan inaugurated the march.
Kerala Dalit Mahasabha president C.S. Murali said several students had discontinued study at Maharaja’s College for want of accommodation. “While the State Human Rights Commission intervened and brought back three students from Attappadi, two from Edamalakkudy, who dropped out after the first few months of struggle, have not returned,” he added.
He said post-metric hostels under the SC/ST Department allocated only around 17% seats for ST students, which translated into some two or three students in all.
S. Ramachandran, a tribal student from Edamalakkudy, who is pursuing graduation at the Government Law College after years of struggle in the city, said it was time the government formed a policy on education of tribal students. “Most of us seek education surviving parental reticence and find it difficult to adjust with everything and do not have a way out than return to our ooru [settlement] if we do not get accommodation and other support. We need exclusive hostels for ST students in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode,” he said.
