Soligar Doddi

Struggles of adivasi youth from Soligar Doddi- an appeal for support

S Kannaiyan

Soligar doddi is a tiny and remote adivasi hamlet in the Thalavady block of Erode district in Tamil Nadu. It is adjacent to the Western Ghats in the Thalamalai forest range in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. About 42 families live in this hamlet. They have traditionally depended on faming, livestock keeping and collecting minor forest produce for a living. Most of the families are landless and men and women work in nearby fields as agricultural laborers. About ten young boys work in a spinning mill in Gobichettipalayam, a small town in Erode district. Elderly people take care of livestock- mainly cows, sheep and goats. Almost all the houses in this hamlet were built many decades ago and are in grave need of repairs. More than 15 families live in makeshift thatched huts without much protection.

Conflict stricken Adivasis suffer during Veerappan’s reign 

In 1990s, the famous forest brigand Veerappan operated from the forest area near Soligar doddi. He was involved in sandalwood smuggling and poaching, and he killed many police and forest officials. He was wanted by the police and for many years there were skirmishes between Veerappan’s group and the police. Unfortunately, the innocent people of Soligar Doddi were caught in the crossfire that lasted over a decade. Police arrested 14 people from Soligar Doddi and almost all the villagers were interrogated and subjected to brutality. Seven of them spent 7 years in jail, 5 years as under trials and were later sentenced to life imprisonment. They were later released by the Madras high court in 2004. These poor people, who spent years of their lives in court cases, were subject to frequent police raids, violence, they lost their livelihood and suffered immensely. 

Children of Soligar Doddi

Mahadevan who spent 7 years in Jail  

Meena, the first Graduate of the village with children

Mahadevan and his Family. Roja, the eldest daughter is studying MA.Economics.

Veerappan was killed by a special police task force in October 2004 and finally peace returned to this hamlet. But, the damage caused to their life is irrevocable and gravely impacted the younger generation. In the meantime, the reserve forest which has been their home for centuries was declared a Tiger Reserve, a highly protected area, which severely restricted Adivasi’s access to the forest. The forest, traditionally their territory, and a key source of their livelihood, was lost to the people of Soligar Doddi. Today, they struggle to make ends meet, mostly working as wage laborers. 

A Success Story of children’s 

education.

Sobha,Revathy, Sundhary and Vennila. All of them in the colleges.

In the Year 2000, no child from Soligar Doddi was in school. This was when St.Ann’s convent, a Primary School from the nearby Thiginare Village took an initiative to provide health care and enroll children in their school. A first batch of children started going to school in 2001. One of them was Meena, a little girl, whose grandfather covered the 3km distance to school, bare feet, carrying her on his shoulders every day. A few years later, he was trampled to death by an elephant. Her two younger sisters Vennila and Sundhari also joined school eventually, walking to school together. All the girls did well. Today, Meena is doing her M.Phil in Physics. Vennila studies Masters in Economics and Sundhari studies Bachelor in Botany.

Another villager, Mahadevan was arrested by police when his daughter Roja was 3 months old and spent more than 7 years in Jail.  Roja too went to St.Ann’s and is doing a Masters in Economics today. Similarly, many other such tribal children from Soligar Doddi have done well at school, while their parents struggled, many of them languishing in jail as a result of the past years of conflict. 

A School finally comes to Soligar Doddi

After several years, in 2016, a government primary school was started in the village through efforts of Mr. Sundharam, then Member of the State legislative assembly. 

Currently 18 students are studying in the school, while 13 others are going to St. Ann’s in the nearby area. The sisters from St Anns convent have personally supported the scholarships of many of the bright students to go to better universities in the state. 

Challenges to stay in the school system.

Only two boys had completed pre-university and managed to join higher studies but were forced to discontinue due to poverty and financial crisis at home. Most of the boys who dropped out from 7, 8 and 9^thstandard have ended up as child labour in farmlands. The reasons for the drop out included corporal punishments at school, rigorous pressure to do well in coursework and a general sense of demotivation. Many of the youth had become addicted to liquor. The conventional school system is also not very suitable for such youth and that more suitable courses are needed, taking into account their Adivasi identity, and vocational training such as bee keeping, livestock keeping, tribal housing skills etc... may be explored in consultation with them.

Santhosh, a 9^thstandard drop out, who is a wonderful artist, is trying hard to reappear for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (commonly referred to as SSLC) exam. He wants to complete the exam but finds it hard to pass. Some of those who managed to pass SSLC are still working in the fields as labourers.

A girl who has completed her pre-university course failed in one of the papers, and now is struggling to take night classes to finish. She is looking for some vocational skills to be able to earn a livelihood.

Three youths appeared for police selection but were not selected. Six young persons were selected in the forest department as anti-poaching watchers but all of them left due to problems in the department including non-payment of the wages in time.

The children and youth of this hamlet need special attention from the government and the society as these adivasi families live in very precarious situations. Their human rights have been consistently violated and neglected for decades. 

I appeal to the public and interested friends to explore the following possibilities.

·      A socio-economic study of the hamlet through participatory method with an aim to understand and identify most suitable bottom up development strategies for the inhabitants of Soligar Doddi. 

·      The government, the elite and privileged, the corporates and NGOs can do their part in bringing justice to not only this little hamlet, but also many such tribal hamlets by reaching and understanding them.

·      Career guidance and decent employment opportunities can be offered by interested individuals and organisations.

·      NGOs can extend their helping hand in rebuilding the lives of the people of this village

·      Corporates can direct their CSR towards this village, especially in implementing a housing program.

Some ongoing financial support for education

Jeevanand, an activist based in Chennai has mobilised some funds from friends and has so far helped five girls for their studies. Individuals and CSR funds are welcome to educate the children of the Soligar Doddi.

Arulagam[1], an environmental NGO based in Coimbatore is facilitating the effort by collecting funds for childrens education.

Tamil Nadu Pazhangudi Makkal Sangam, an association of tribal people of Tamil Nadu is an integeral part of the life of the Soligar Doddi people. Leaders associated with this organization, such as V..P.Gunasekharan; Mohan Kumar; veteran human rights lawyer B.P.Mohan; and ex MLA Sundharam remembered by the entire village for their tireless legal struggles to support the community members. The villagers are also grateful to the sisters of St.Ann’s convent and most particularly Sr.Jeba Malai, Sr.Angel Mary, Sr.Leema for their sustained support for the village.

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[1]http://www.arulagam.org