Dindigul Paliyar Tribe Demands Recognition of Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi as Revenue Village

Paliyar families petition for revenue village recognition in Dindigul

Seventeen families belonging to the Paliyar tribe from Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi in Periyammapatti panchayat of Palani taluk , Dindigul district, have approached the district administration seeking formal recognition of their settlement as a revenue village . The petition highlights long-standing concerns over land rights, culturally appropriate housing, and access to basic welfare services.

Representation to district authorities

The families submitted their petition at the Dindigul Collectorate , requesting the administration to acknowledge their habitation as a recognised village. They currently live on nearly one acre of government poramboke land , which they state has been their traditional settlement for several generations. Formal recognition, they argue, would allow structured development and access to government schemes.

Traditional livelihood and way of life

Members of the Paliyar community are traditionally forest-dependent , earning livelihoods through the collection of minor forest produce , goat rearing , and agricultural labour . Although house-site pattas were issued around three years ago , the families continue to reside in individual huts. They explained that compact concrete housing colonies do not suit their nomadic–pastoral lifestyle , which requires open spaces for livestock, storage, and dispersed housing patterns.

Survey and housing demands

In their representation, the families sought a detailed land survey and clear demarcation of the patta land already allotted. They also requested the construction of individual houses under the Tholkudi housing scheme , designed in a culturally sensitive manner. The petition stressed that development initiatives should respect ancestral practices and spatial needs , rather than impose uniform housing designs.

Towards inclusive tribal development

The families urged the administration to recognise their settlement as a revenue village to ensure access to drinking water, electricity, education, healthcare, and welfare schemes . They argued that such recognition would strike a balance between preserving their traditional identity and enabling inclusive development, reflecting a rights-based approach to tribal welfare.

Important Facts for Exams

• Paliyar tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu

• Poramboke land refers to government-owned, non-revenue land

• Tholkudi scheme provides housing support for tribal communities

• Revenue village status enables access to official welfare schemes