ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL HABITS OF IRULA TRIBES IN COIMBATORE

Abstract

The tribes are one of the socially excluded groups living in our country. The total population of tribal people in the country accounts for about 8.9% of the total population. The Tribal population in Tamil Nadu accounts for 7,94,697 and constitutes 1.1 per cent of the population of the state according to the 2011 census. There are totally 36 different tribal groups live in the state and in which six of them are termed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups (PVTG’s) by the government with the purpose of enabling improvement in the conditions of life of people particularly those at low development indices. The present study analyzes the cultural habits of Irula tribes living in Coimbatore district. Irulas are one among the six PVTG’s in Tamil Nadu. The PVTGs include Toda, Kota, Kurumba, Irula, Paniyan and Kattunayakan.