Participation in national workshops (eg Child Trafficking in India)
Registration in employment offices under reserved quotas
Teacher training on teaching strategies and children's issues
Health
Awareness and promotion of hygienic lifestyles and disease prevention
Baseline data on health status of Irulas
Health care services and camps by allopathic and herbal doctors
Special care and help for the disabled
Orientation workshops on HIV/AIDS for staff, community leaders, affected persons
Improved research lab with quality facilities
Documentation and promotion of traditional healing practices
Provision of first aid kits to villages
Baseline surveys on health status of Irula villages
Livelihoods
Revolving fund support and micro credit schemes
Formation of self-help groups (SHGs), and promoting self-employment
Employment opportunities
Federation of all SHGs
Marketing of herbal products through exhibitions and outlets
Action through the Rural Development Secretary including loans
Insurance policies to 1800 families under “Janasree Bheema Yojana Policy”
Herbal regional collection units and training on income generation programmes
New packaging unit, run by Irula women
Employment generation training programmes in association with Tamilnadu Women’s Development Corporation and Special Panchayats.
Ecology
Forestry Seed-Bank
Medicinal plants nursery and tree nursery at Thandarai village
Conservation of forest resources through tree planting, rain-water harvesting, sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest produces, etc
Launching of the ‘GreenNet’ International network
Coastal environment protection project including planting of ‘mangroves (alayathi), casuarina (savukku), cashew (munthiri), Indian beach (pungam), neem (vembu), etc
Promoting tree plantations under the cash- for- work programme; increased employment through environmental regeneration
Documention of case studies, traditional conservation practices
Vaidyar meetings (traditional doctors) and training programmes
Publishing and distributing books, posters, cards, etc on environmental issues.
Identity & Culture
Workshops and training programmes on identification and revival of Irula practices
Seminars on gender equality and matriarchy
Recording and telecasting of Irula folk songs, dances and stories
Documentation and support of Irula practices such as Shamanism, and their value
Inter-tribal cultural exchange programmes
Support of traditional festivals such as ‘Masimagam’
Planning a tribal museum at Thandarai, to promote Irulas identity
Transference of traditional hunting and other skills to the younger generation of Irulas
Human Rights
Baseline data collection on the status of adivasi human rights with the support of the National Law School
Adivasi rights awareness conferences and workshops
Campaign on protection of adivasi human rights
Participation in International Women’s Rights Day meeting and other human rights functions
Skill-development training camps for team leaders on adivasi human rights
Organisation of public meetings and petitions for the development of Scheduled Tribes
Promotion of people’s organsiations (POs) in adivasi regions in Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry
Documentation and publications l on adivasis problems and needs
Civil Rights
Improved basic amenities in Irula villages
Need based petitions to government departments
Community Certificates obtained for educational and employment reservation.
Tsunami relief and rehabilitation support provided to 54 coastal villages
Temporary shelters constructed for over 280 families
Permanent houses planned and under construction for 485 families
Improving child rights and children's participation in the Irula community
Common land purchased for 8 Irula villages
Flood relief activity undertaken and over 560 families benefited
Training on civil rights, educational needs, village sanitation and hygiene
