Cologne/Bharathi Nagar. On the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August, Malteser International reminds of the Irulas, one of the indigenous tribal communities in India. "In the course of the last decades, the Irulas were expelled from their ancestral settlements in the woodland inland and now live near the coast of southern India. Therefore, they were particularly affected by the tsunami in 2004", Annette Waechter-Schneider, Senior Desk Officer India at Malteser International, explains. "Many families lost everything. Since they have no lobby within the Indian society, they belong to the forgotten victims of the flood disaster." Malteser International helps the Irulas to find new homes.
One of the Irula women reports: "Thanks to Malteser International, we are in a safe place for the first time. We used to live in tiny shelters that were destroyed every time it was raining heavily." She now lives in Bharathi Nagar, a small settlement at the southern tip of the country with about 100 houses built by 'Bharathi Trust' and Malteser International together with the Irula.
But Malteser International wants more: "With this project, we not only support tsunami victims to get a roof over their heads, but we also pave the way out of poverty and discrimination for the Irulas", Annette Waechter-Schneider resumes.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
