Kolkarar, Nilavoor’s village guard shows this writer traditional coarse grains like Cholam, Saamai. These grains are at the risk of going out of production due to low rainfall and poor irrigation, says G. Raju, village headman and Congress leader of Nilavoor, a Kaaralar tribal village in Yelagiri Hills, Vellore district.
Raju, a former Panchayat president says, “People are selling their land as the tourism boom has made land prices shoot up. One acre is selling for 1.5 to 2 crores.” Though a tribal area, Yelagiri hills is not reserved for them as it is a tourist area. There are no restrictions on transfer of tribal lands.
“PMK founder Ramadoss aiyya has also said that these traditional grains are much healthier, but the younger generation wants polished rice instead,” Raju explains.
“I used to grow Saamai on my 3 acres of land. I sold 2 acres to the resort people for 7 lakhs in 1999, to get my seven daughters married,” says Govindan, a tribal elder. Tourist resorts now dot the hills.
Once dense jungle, large patches of forest have been cleared out for construction activity. Construction labour wages are as high as Rs. 200 a day and there is no visible unemployment.
“Our people don’t know what to do with all this money from real estate and higher wages. They are buying motorcycles or becoming alcoholics. There are only 5 men in this village, including me, that do not drink,” woes Raju.
Due to the influx of money, most youth from the village are well qualified and work in cities. Modern Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) find many buyers in Nilavoor.
Nagamma, a shopkeeper, who sources groceries from Athanavur, the administrative centre of the hills, sells them at a profit of 50p to Re1, per item. I have good sales. Most leading cigarette brands, soft drinks and packaged snacks are sold in this village.
“We are now rich, but arrogant. We need to preserve our culture or risking losing our identity and harmony in our community,” says Raju.
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