A big protest meeting was organized by Makkal Mandram on 28th March 2017 opposite Taluk Office Kancheepuram to draw attention of the district administration, revenue, police and forest departments towards the plight of Narikuravar and Kuruvikarar community in the district. The meeting saw more than 600 Narikuravars gathering from nearby districts of Vellore, Thiruvanamalai and Thiruvallur also along with their community members from Kancheepuram.
Several leaders from the community also spoke about the extreme poverty faced by the community due to various detrimental Government policies and executive actions. One leader spoke about how their licensed guns (SBML guns) which have been deposited with the local police stations before the assembly elections last year have still not been returned to them, even after 10 months, thereby drastically affecting their basic sources of food and by extension their life itself. Another leader talked about who they have to live in fear at all times, as police and forest officials seize their guns unlawfully and demand huge bribes for their return. Hence even those who have the guns will them are unable to use it. Another member narrated his ordeal of being picked up, getting beaten up with lathis and boots at the Police Station, remanded to jail on a foisted case and how he had to spend more than Rs. 40000/- to come out. As one speaker pointed out, “Once we were the king of the forests, now we are reduced to living like beggars or scavengers on the fringes of villages and towns. But the administration is trying to throw us out from these places too.”
Several youth members talked about how they had persevered to get higher education but were still unable to find suitable employment. They mentioned how there are several graduates (B.E., B.Sc., B.Com, B.A.) and several diploma holders too in the community now but are forced to do the jobs done by their elders. The government is not helping them to get jobs. A serious problem is that Narikuravars come under the MBC list even now, though their indigenous status as a tribe is open knowledge. Inspite of concerted efforts made by community activists for more than four decades, they are still not given Scheduled Tribe status. This discrimination has affected job opportunities of Narikurava youths.
In several villages, dominant caste people with political influence and powerful vested interests within the village have encroached upon the meagre land given to the Narikuravar community. As the result, autos or four wheelers are unable to enter the Narikurava village. They have to travel long distances on foot to access the main roads. Their children are unable to go to school as they have walk for several kilometres. In case of medical emergencies, they have to literally carry the sick or injured person by foot. Some big institutions nearby are using their area as a dumping ground for their rubbish. This has become a major health hazard as massive swarm of flies are contaminating food and water. As a result of all this, they are unable to live peacefully in their own land.
Several speakers from other organisations expressed their support and solidarity for these basic demands of the Narikuravas.
Comrade Velmurugan, leader of Tamizhaga Vazhurimai Katchi, gave stirring support to the community and said it is a shame that even after seven decades after independence, the government is unable to ensure equal progress for the Narikuravar community. They face discrimination and are marginalized everywhere. He said that similar to how the government compensates fisher folks due breeding season when fishing is banned; the Narikuravas should also be compensated by the government if they are not allowed to hunt small birds and animals for their food and livelihood. He demanded five acres of irrigated land for each Naraikurava family so that they can do farming as an occupation and survive on it.
Comrade Vanniarasu, Deputy General Secretary of Liberation Panthers Party (VCK) said that his party would stand with Makkal Mandram in getting basic needs of this community fulfilled. He strongly condemned the indifference and inefficiency of the government in achieving better living conditions for the Narikuravas. Comrade Kanalvizhi, also from VCK, talked about how dominant castes use their political clout to achieve their needs and often trample upon the needs and rights of oppressed castes and indigenous people like Narikuravas and Irulas, who were never part of brahminical religion.
Comrade Sundaram, High Court Advocate humorously narrated a few incidents about how the police demand not just cash bribes but small game hunted by Narikuravas. He said they shoot a few cats, crows, squirrel or egrets to meet the food requirements of their family and corrupt policemen snatch it away from them. He said most eateries have to keep free biryanis aside for policemen and they rely on Narikuravas for getting crows to make these biryanis. He said that the Narikuravas are the original experts on wildlife and nature. He implored them to preserve their distinct identity and culture like dress, language etc., while seeking progress in all areas of life. He also assured full legal support to the Narikuravas in future.
Comrade Abdul Hakim, Advocate and President of Bar Association Kancheepuram lamented how the squirrels come and devour most of the small, raw guavas from his guava tree. They don’t allow it to ripe at all. He recalled how two decades back, the houses in his locality had live green fences and not boundary walls which are now common. Whenever the squirrel population increased the Narikuravas would be called to come and catch them. The Narikuravas would start at one end of the street and cover the entire street. They don’t have the space to do it now, he rued. He also encouraged them to send their children to schools and colleges. Education will the lead the community out of their current plight, he opined.
Comrade Mahesh of Makkal Mandram, who also co-ordinated the entire event, demanded accountability from revenue and police officials, as often they create unnecessary hurdles for the Narikuravas who are trying to access special government policies that are meant to empower them. She said that from our interactions with the community, we have observed that the gun is not just a tool for getting food. Now it has become a symbol of Narikurava identity for them. These guns were given to them by the British rulers and continued by Nehru, Kamarajar and MGR. It is a legacy that is handed down from generation to generation. Many of them now own their grandfather’s gun. A young man without a gun is unlikely to get a girl in marriage. They cannot sleep at night peacefully without the gun. They don’t shoot lions, tigers or deer. They also don’t shoot and kill human beings. If the government says that they cannot shoot anything even small animals like wildcats, rabbits or egrets, then why has the government given them gun licenses? Let the government provide them with satisfactory alternative livelihoods like agricultural land, or shops for selling their bead jewellery, honey and siddha medicines. And then ask them to stop using guns.
After the protest meeting got over, a delegation of representatives met Sri Santhosh Hadimani, the new Superintendent of Police Kancheepuram, who assured that he will direct the Police Stations to return the guns at once. The team was unable to meet the District Collector as he was away. Makkal Mandram is now following up this issue with appropriate government officials and departments.
PS: Narikuravar is singular and Narikurava is plural. Narikuravar is the respectable form of address (eg., Iyer, Vanniyar, Paraiyar etc) and hence has been chosen. As per brahminical religion, so called upper castes call them Narikuravan, which is derogatory form of singular. Similarly, Kuruvikarar is singular and Kuruvikara is plural.
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