Kolam tribe

The Central government launches the Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, focusing on providing basic facilities to the endangered Kolam tribe.

About Kolam tribe:

• Kolam are a designated Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• They are considered among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGS).
• They are common in the Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Nanded districts of Maharashtra and live in hamlets called pod.
• They speak the Kolami language, which is a Dravidian language.
• They are an agricultural community.
• They have a high rate of returning positive to the Naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT), making them prone to high incidence of Thalassaemia.

About Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan:

• The Central government is extending basic facilities to the endangered Kolam tribe under the Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, focusing on health and education for the PVTG.
• The scheme targets improving road connectivity from mandal headquarters to Kolam villages, enhancing internal roads, and ensuring access to potable drinking water, electricity or solar energy, and LPG gas stoves and cylinders.
• Emphasis is placed on strengthening health and education for the Kolam tribe, with measures such as improving local primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and providing special training to teachers in the area for quality education.
• Anganwadis will be reinforced to offer nutritious food to pregnant, lactating women, and teenage girls, and financial assistance will be provided to pregnant women through the Ayushman Bharath scheme.
• The scheme identifies a total of 390 villages of PVTGs, including 197 in Adilabad, 20 in Mancherial, 24 in Nirmal, and 149 in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.
• Skill development training will be provided to unemployed youth, ensuring suitable employment opportunities.
• Additionally, farmers from PVTGs will receive agriculture motors, cattle, and agriculture tools under the scheme.
• The integrated tribal development agency officials will play a crucial role in implementing the Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, addressing the unique needs of the Kolam tribe.

Ref: Source