Kerala: Report sought on dumb tribal slave'

MALAPPURAM: The Kerala State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has sought a report from the district collector, police chief and project officer of the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) on the plight of a deaf and dumb ‘slave tribesman’ in Nilambur.

Following a report of his alleged slavery in a house, the commission chair Justice P.N. Vijayakumar asked the authorities to submit the report before January 30.

The authorities have started efforts to rehabilitate the 38-year-old called Pottadi, who hails from Peruvambadam tribal colony of Chaliyar panchayat. He has been working as a domestic help there for more than two decades.

Firewood collection from the forest and grazing around 30 farm animals are his duties for more than 20 years. However, according to a police officer who conducted a preliminary probe a few months ago, he had no complaints about the works or against the household that provides him shelter.

He is reluctant to return to his relatives and very much immersed in the family whom he lives with, he said. The households are also ready to provide anything if he wanted to go back to his family.  

He has no official documents including voter ID, ration card or Aadhaar to prove his existence for claiming benefits from the government despite being a physically challenged person.