August 21, 2023
By PNC team
On August 11, the PNC programme met with 23 Kurumba elders from villages within the Coonoor slopes to aid in the mapping of their ancestral domains as part of a habitat rights claims. This meeting was a culmination of two years of consistent field-based meetings, when hand-drawn maps were made. Over this time, the elders were encouraged to observe more youth beginning to get involved. The group aims to conduct GIS mapping of the land and submit one comprehensive habitat rights claim from the entire Kurumba community. This is crucial in ensuring basic human rights for the community, which currently faces a severe lack of civic and health infrastructure. For example, there is no community hall that can promote unity in decision-making and engagement. The residents also find themselves often walking long distances to procure household rations.
On August 13, PNC organised a meeting for 12 representatives from Porivarai Community Foundation based in Aracode. The representatives are Irula community members, and were pleased to note increasing levels of interest in youth, who have been engaging with the foundation. This shift also potentially opens up avenues for employing more technology-based tools to deepen the work of the foundation. The meeting also looked at plans for the future – addressing the need to strengthen local governance mechanisms, plans to improve self-reliance, promote local philanthropy, and find independent sources of funding. The meeting also led to a crucial change in the executive committee, placing for the first time ever, three women in the president, secretary and treasurer positions, replacing men. A part of the meeting was dedicated to group activities.
On August 19, a meeting was organised between representatives of three communities in Nilamabur, Paniya, Kattunayaka and Malamuthan, and our guests from the NilgiriScapes conference, Nurit Bird David and Noa Lavi. The two anthropologists discussed with the community members, who are independent researchers working on a upcoming publication on the life and culture of the Kattunayakas. David and Lavi would continue their engagement to give direction and inputs throughout the process.
On August 21, a public histories meeting was organised, inviting members of seven communities from Nilambur and the Nilgiris to discuss applies history outside the classroom, exploring methods such as oral histories and cultural mapping. The meeting discussed perspectives on work done in the last two years, and involved three project partners.
