Ensure Education of Irula Tribe Children, Prevent Child Marriages and Child Labour Among Irula Tribes, and Prevent Migration of Irula Tribes to Work as Bonded Labourers by Helping Them to Avail Schemes and Projects

Location:
Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu districts, Tamil Nadu, India

​Summary of the Project:
This comprehensive intervention project aims to break the cycle of bonded labor, child marriage, and educational deprivation among the Irula tribal community in Tamil Nadu. The project addresses multiple interconnected issues including lack of basic identity documents, forced migration for work, child labor, educational dropout, and early marriage through a holistic approach involving documentation support, awareness campaigns, emergency assistance, and educational interventions.

Issues Addressed:

• Bonded labor system: Irula families trapped in exploitative work arrangements with advances, interest charges, and restricted movement
• Lack of basic documentation: Absence of Aadhar cards, voter IDs, birth certificates, and community certificates preventing access to government schemes
• Educational disruption: High dropout rates, non-enrollment, and children missing school due to family migration
• Child marriage and teen pregnancy: Girls married in adolescence, becoming mothers before age 19
• Housing insecurity: Living in unauthorized dwellings without proper land documents (patta)
• Limited livelihood opportunities: Lack of skills training and stable employment in home villages
• Social marginalization: Living in scattered habitations away from mainstream village communities
• Lack of electricity: 50 families without power affecting children's studies and family safety

Approach Taken:

• Multi-pronged intervention: Addressing documentation, shelter, livelihood, education, and emergency needs simultaneously
• Community-based approach: Working directly in Irula habitations and involving families in awareness programs
• Government coordination: Collaborating with district collectors, revenue officials, and education departments
• Capacity building: Training and sensitizing community members about rights and available schemes
• Emergency response: Providing immediate support to families released from bonded labor
• Education-focused camps: Intensive motivation programs for dropout children
• Systematic documentation: Maintaining records and conducting regular monitoring and evaluation

Solutions:

• Identity documentation drive: Helping 100 families obtain essential documents including Aadhar cards, voter IDs, birth certificates, and community certificates
• Awareness campaigns: Conducting 30 village meetings to educate against child marriage, bonded labor, and migration
• Emergency support program: Providing immediate assistance (clothes, utensils, school supplies, rations) to families released from slavery
• Education camps: Intensive 3-day programs for 100 dropout children in batches to motivate school enrollment
• Solar lantern distribution: Providing 50 families with solar lighting for safety and children's studies
• Government scheme enrollment: Helping families access MNREGA, welfare boards, and other social security programs
• Field worker deployment: Two full-time community workers providing ongoing support throughout the year
• Housing support: Assisting families to obtain patta (land documents) for permanent settlement

Impact:

• 94 Irula individuals previously released from slavery and supported for rehabilitation
• 27 Irula tribes, including 11 children, were recently rescued from sugar cane plantations in collaboration with the District Collectors

---

---

What is the impact of $1000 on this project?
For every $1000 disbursed, the project will provide ~10 students with holistic education