Irula Tribe

13-09-2024

06:30 PM

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1 min read
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Overview:

The Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society, a cooperative society of Irula tribals located on Chennai's outskirts, is facing an uncertain future.

About Irula Tribe:

  • Irulas are one of India’s oldest indigenous communities.
  • They are a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG).
  • They live primarily in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, as well as in parts of Kerala and Karnataka.
  • Language: Their language, Irula, is related to Tamil and Kannada, which are southern Dravidian languages.
  • Religious Beliefs:
    • The Irula people don’t have a definite god for them. They are pantheists who make provision for the presence of spirits in humans and objects.
    • Their main deity is a virgin goddess called Kanniamma, who is deeply associated with the cobra. 
  • Irula houses are built together in small settlements or villages called mottas. The mottas are usually situated on the edges of steep hills and are surrounded by a few dry fields, gardens, and forests or plantations.
  • Traditionally, they have been skilled hunters, gatherers, and honey collectors, relying on the forest for their sustenance and livelihood.
  • They are specialists in traditional herbal medicine and healing practices.
  • Irulas' knowledge of snakes and snake venom is legendary. Their expertise is often sought after in snake rescue and rehabilitation projects.
  • The Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society is a major producer of anti-snake venom (ASV) in the country. It supplies almost 80 percent ofthevenom that goes into making anti-venom in India.
  • They use traditional knowledge and skills to catch snakes, extract venom, and release the snakes back into the wild without harming them.

Q1: What is a cooperative society?

A co-operative society is often a voluntary association of individuals who come together with the intention to work together and to promote their economic interest. These societies work on the principle of self-help as well as mutual help. The primary goal is to provide support to the members. A co-operative society may be governed by the respective state’s Co-operative Societies Act or by the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. 

Source: A Tamil Nadu tribe supplies 80% of India’s anti-snake venom but struggles to find a cure for poverty