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Kerala SHRC Orders Rehabilitation of Paniya Families
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to urgently rehabilitate Paniya tribal families living in makeshift tarpaulin shelters at Vaniyampuzha, across the Chaliyar River in Pothukal panchayat, Kerala. The directive brings focus on the Paniya (Paniyan) tribe, a Scheduled Tribe community with a large population presence in Kerala.
Paniya Tribe:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Distribution comprises Wayanad; parts of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts of Kerala; Gudalur and Pandalur areas of Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu; and the southern part of Kodagu district of Karnataka. |
| Population status in Kerala | The Paniya community comprises the largest single scheduled tribe population in Kerala. |
| Work profile | The people of this tribal community comprise majorly labourers. |
| Bonded labour reference | The past history comprises work as bonded laborers in the ancient period. |
| Landholding and crops | In the contemporary period, landholding comprises individual lands, and crop production comprises rice and ragi. |
| Language | Language comprises the Paniya language, which belongs to the Dravidian family and is closely related to Malayalam. |
| Housing pattern | A Paniyan village comprises rows of huts constructed from bamboo with thatched roofs, and houses comprise single- or double-storied structures. |
| Religion and beliefs | Worship practices comprise a deity called Kali and banyan tree worship, and banyan trees are not cut due to a belief that attempting to cut the tree comprises falling sick. |