Irulas unable to utilise schemes sans certificates
With no community certificate, Irulas struggling to educate their children
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-19 05:23 GMT
Coimbatore:With no community certificate, Irulas living in Koppanarai village, in Thollampalayam Post in Karamadai, have been struggling to educate their children and get benefits of government welfare schemes for the last many years.
A group of Irula tribals from Koppanarai thronged the collectorate here on Monday demanding community certificates for their school-going children. "We have been unable to send our children to schools because the school authorities insist on community certificates. While on the one hand the government talks of education for all, on the other, it does little to facilitate education for those living in remote tribal hamlets like us," they charged.
The tribals claimed that they were unable to avail of even basic facilities that they are entitled to as citizens because of the lack of community certificates. Their children who have passed out of schools have been unable to pursue higher education without these certificates.
Irula women engaged in self-help group activities have also not been able to get loans from banks, they rued. Even as revenue department officials visited the area and received 25 applications for certificates, enquiry was done only for three applications, the villagers alleged.
"The purpose of government welfare schemes for the tribal people is being defeated as hundreds of people in the area are not able to avail of any benefits."