Krishnagiri: An Irula family's fight for food continues even after 20 years of migration from their native place in search of livelihood.
The family that once lived in Bettamugilalam has moved to Kurumbatti village, in Bellalam-Iruthukottai road, both in Denkannikottai taluk of Krishnagiri district, after their struggle to survive in their native place.
“We had nothing to eat, which forced us to move out of our native place searching for food. Finally, we settled here because of the local people’s support,” the Irula woman Kempamma told DC.
The 50-year-old Kempamma, widow of Madhappa, added, “My family has eight members including our five daughters and one son; all our children were minors when we came here.”
The elderly lady went on with her lament: “Soon after reaching this place, built our hut in a small piece of patta land owned by “Doddavarau (caste Hindu)”. We lived there till his property changed hands to another person.”
“This is our second place after we have been asked to vacate by the new owner who purchased the property in which we lived earlier,” she explained why her community chose to stay in government land on the forest fringe.
Now, the numbers of the small Kempamma's family at the time of them coming to Kurumbatti had increased to over 30 people. They being a nuclear family, stay in seven small huts built with mud walls and having asbestos sheet as roof.
“Working as agriculture labour is the only source of income for us. We get job if cultivation takes place. If not, that year we get little food,” 35-year- old M. Madesh said.
Madesh, born as the sixth child of Kempamma, pointing to the officials’ apathy, said “Our families are not covered under any government schemes including the road work (MGNREGS or rural jobs scheme)”
“Four of us get free rice. This we share with other families not having ration card. Our situation will be worse than now if this facility was not given to us,” Madesh said by thanking the officials who covered them under the food security programme.
He also asked the officials to cover them under MGNREGS scheme that guarantees 100 days of employment in a financial year for the poor rural people.
