Kokkathodu
Kokkathode is a small rural inlet located in the mountainous
region of Pathanamthitta district twenty-five kilometers from
Konni. The population is comprised of adivasis (tribal, indigenous
forest dwellers) and dalits (caste oppressed people) and a sparse
population of migrants from Central Travancore. The place is
isolated from mainstream society due to lack of infrastructure
like developed roads, water, electricity, educational institutions
and health care facilities. This has also resulted in keeping
the people of the region low down in the economic strata, in
addition to the associated problems of high mortality rates,
low physical health etc. The effect of this lack of development
has also given rise to higher incidence of antisocial behavior
patterns like alcohol related violence and family trauma. An
associated problem is that children in this region are growing
up without proper guidance and help. Participation
of the Mar Thoma Church in Kokkathode
The area is under the Ranni-Nillackal Diocese and is catered
to with the leadership of a vicar who works with an evangelist
and staff of the Children’s Hostel for Tribal/Underprivileged
Students. The manager of the children’s hostel has also
provided very effective leadership. The hostel is at present
functioning from rented premises. At the moment there are
sixty-eight students in the hostel and classes range from
nursery to the fifth standard. The approach to the issues
faced by these indigenous people is to try and provide holistic
care to the community at large at the same time helping maintain
the indigenous character and ethos. This care includes provision
of accommodation, food, clothes, and educational facilities
as also moral and spiritual guidance.
Future
Possibilities and Needs
There are many more children who continue to need support and
care. This is not possible within the existing framework. In
addition, other areas of growth need to be initiated so that
the future of the people is secured both economically and spiritually.
This calls for action to develop both infrastructure and the
people involved, within a community framework. Such an approach
would enable both cultural continuity and progress that keeps
the community identity strong.
Primary
Health Center
A primary health center is a must for this area. It can be planned
in such a manner as to develop into a medium scale hospital
in future. This hospital can cater to the needs of the surrounding
population. This can also in future develop into a school for
training nursing staff and paramedical courses.
School, Hostel and Vocational Training
Center
It is important that a school building be constructed at the
earliest to enable infrastructure development. It should also
be planned to develop a vocational training center so that young
persons can get trained in various courses like welding, plumbing,
electrician and draughtsman or tailoring. This would also help
the development of a vocational higher secondary school in the
future.
Community Development Programs
Kokkathodu is situated in a hilly and forest region where
grass and fodder could be easily made available. It is also
a good chance for community development programs where the
community can actively participate. It would be possible to
develop two programs that would help the community as a whole.
Dairy Farming: Provision can be made for
the development of a dairy with about fifty-sixty cows or
more in the long run. It would be possible to grow guinea
grass and other high yielding variety grass for providing
fodder. The advantages of such a program would be many.
i. Milk beyond what is needed for the community and the hostel
could be sold in the open market or to organizations like
Milma. Another proposal would be the development of milk-based
items or the setting up of a separate unit for development
of milk based items.
ii. A gobar gas plant could be set up and the gas could be
used for providing lighting for the community. This could
also provide enough natural fertilizer for the agriculture
activities of the community.
iii. It would provide employment for people within the community
for their well-being and also help them with a corporate source
of livelihood.
Goat Farming: A new variety of high yielding
goats available at Palghat is very productive and profitable.
A pair of these cost about twenty thousand rupees (??). However,
these goats are available and give high returns. In addition
to this local varieties can also be used. Considering the
low maintenance costs of goat rearing and the high yield within
a short span of time it would be a good source of income.
It could be possible to have about a hundred goats in the
long run. Provision can be made for the same in the planning
stage even if we were to aim for something like this in the
next five years. These could provide the nutrient need of
the community as well as develop as a steady business of the
community.
Developing a Medicinal Resource Base: One area of activity
that can be developed and which is fast losing ground is the
knowledge of plants with medicinal value that the ancient
people have knowledge of and which can be protected as well
as salvaged for the development of their indigenous identity.
The adivasis have a knowledge base regarding forest resources
especially in the area of the local “paccha marunu”
which is being lost due to the onslaught of modern technology.
These can be studied and developed.
A participating
community is able to develop strong internal bonds and hence
will stand the test of tough times that may destroy other
communities that are not so knit. The approach to develop
this community with the help of modern technology, while maintaining
its indigenous identity would help garner the spirit of the
community and move it forward to face the modern world. |
