Paliyar Families Seek Recognition of Settlement as Village in Dindigul

Seventeen families from Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi in Periyammapatti panchayat of Palani taluk, located in Dindigul district, have petitioned the district administration seeking formal recognition of their existing settlement as a revenue village. The families belong to the Paliyar tribe, a forest-dependent indigenous community with a distinct nomadic and pastoral way of life.

Petition Submitted to District Administration

The petition was submitted to the Dindigul Collectorate, urging authorities to acknowledge their long-standing habitation and initiate development measures accordingly. The families currently reside on nearly one acre of government poramboke land at Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi, which they say has been their traditional settlement area for generations.

Traditional Livelihood and Housing Concerns

The Paliyar families stated that they are traditionally engaged in collecting minor forest produce, goat rearing and agricultural labour. Although house site pattas were issued to them around three years ago, they continue to live in individual hut dwellings. They explained that densely built concrete housing colonies are incompatible with their customary lifestyle, which requires open spaces for livestock sheds and scattered housing patterns rather than compact layouts.

Demand for Survey and Culturally Sensitive Housing

In their representation, the families requested a proper survey and clear demarcation of the patta land already allotted to them. They also sought the construction of individual concrete houses under the Tholkudi housing scheme, designed in a manner that respects their ancestral practices, spatial needs and cultural identity. The petition emphasised that development should align with their traditional living patterns rather than impose standardised housing models.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The Paliyar tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu.
• Poramboke land refers to government-owned land not assessed for revenue.
• Tholkudi scheme focuses on housing for tribal communities in Tamil Nadu.
• Recognition of habitations as revenue villages enables access to welfare schemes.

Call for Inclusive Tribal Development

The families have urged the district administration to treat their settlement as a formal village to ensure access to basic amenities and government welfare schemes. They argued that recognising their settlement would help preserve their traditional way of life while enabling planned development, reflecting a more inclusive approach to tribal welfare and land rights in the region.