Yerukalas in Modern India
Y
erukalas proved to a very large extent that the stigma of ‘criminal tribe’ is ERASABLE in the eyes of the law and the rest of society.
According to the Census data reports of 2001, literacy rate of Yerukalas in Andhra Pradesh is 45.4%, highest among the ST population of Andhra Pradesh. It is a significant increase from 1991's 25.74. The yard stick for any community's development in this time of world is education. Even though there is a significant increase in the literacy rate, lot of works is yet to be done.
Even though the Yerukalas are considerable population, almost 6 lakhs as of today, they are spread out thinly in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Only when they stay close to each other, like pockets, they would be able to have strong social networks and get stronger politically.
Click here to read the summary report of Census 2001 data report for the ST population in Andhra Pradesh.
Yerukula Hakkula Porata Samiti
The Yerukula Hakkula Porata Samiti (YHPS) has sought the opening of separate Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) to ensure development of the tribal community, which has been neglected for more than four decades, living in the plains of the State. They alleged that gross injustice was being done to the Yerukula community, which had the second largest tribal population in the State. There are nine ITDAs for the agency tribals. In 2002, another ITDA was set up for Yanadis, who are from the plains and 42 special schemes were launched for Lamabadas in the State through which crores of rupees were being spent on their welfare by the State and Central Governments, apart from international agencies. However, the Yerukula tribe was neglected with hardly any scheme taken up for their welfare after 1961.
Yerukula Hakkula Porata Samiti (YHPS) is lead by Valigi Prabhakar Yerukala (President) and K. Venkateswarlu Yerukala (Vice President).
Living conditions
According to the Livelihood Options Project, Yerukala community is considered as a 'loser'. Livelihood Options Project is undertaken by Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Britain's leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. According to their study the Yerukalas are considered as 'losers' because of the below reasons..
• Lack of assets, education, skills.
• Decline of Common Property Resources like forests.
• Falling demand for baskets.
• Government policy of discouraging pigs to control transmission of encephalitis.
• Lack of access to Pro-poor programmes.
• Lack of strong social networks that have allowed pooling and sharing of resources.
• Lack of access to patronage.
• Lack of access to political power.
• Lack of access to adaptable or marketable caste-based skills.
• Lack of access to land acquisition.
The Yerukalas are one of the most subjugated sections of Indian society who have been the victims of historical dislocations, unconventional occupations, colonial legacy and social stigma. There may not be any other case in social history where cultural singularity of a set of communities has proven to be a bane to their existence. The emergence of modern, secular institutions including democracy and judiciary has not been beneficial to these people either. This is a classic case of mismatch between tradition and modernity, which has proven very costly in terms of social justice and equality.
The modern process of development has also failed to include them in its orbit. As a result the Yerukalas continue to remain poor, marginalized and powerless communities. Unfortunately, their case has not been sufficiently attended to by democratic polity and civil society. Their closed, inward looking cultures have also found to be an obstacle to change and development. For these very reasons, there is a need to make concerted efforts towards their development. The preparation of this perspective is a step in this direction, which needs to be followed with research, action and advocacy.
Instead of celebrating the militant and heroic heritage of those designated ‘criminal tribes’ by the British rulers, independent India continues to ill-treat them. With cruel irony constant harassment in fact drives some of them to crime.
People who made it
A close look at the Census 2001 data report for the ST population in Andhra Pradesh indicates that Yerukalas are foremost in the Educational Levels achieved in the Primary, Middle, Matric/Intermediate, Technical and Graduate & above. Still there is lot to achieve. The children should all get into the Graduate & above level.
Click here to read about the distinguished personalities in Yerukala community.