Latest news with #Paniya
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Tiger population at Nilgiris' MTR increases 28% in one year
NILGIRIS: In a significant boost for India's tiger conservation programme, the tiger population rose to 165 in the core and buffer areas of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in 2024-25, a 28% rise from 129 tigers in 2023-24. With International Tiger Day being observed on July 29, this spike in number of tigers has delighted wildlife activists and conservationists. Forest managers say the key reasons behind the spike are removal of invasive species, and anti-poaching activities. The reserve is spread across 688 hectares, and there are nearly 85 swamps in its core area, serving as major water sources. 'If we had not removed the invasive species, it would have spread across these swamps and destroyed prime habitats of the animals. The management of these swamps has played a key role in the conservation efforts,' said forest department sources. Based on the Madras High Court's direction, the process of removing Lantana camara, with the involvement of tribals, is also in full swing in the core areas of MTR. A senior forest official of MTR said, 'Of the total 688.59 hectares, 321 hectares is core zone and 367.59 hectares is buffer zone. Invasive species has occupied close to 40% of the total areas. Anti-poaching activities and habitat management play a major role in increasing prey density. Ecological balance is maintained by the presence of major predators such as tigers and leopards and co-predators such as dholes and hyenas. Moreover, vultures play a key role in scavenging the dead animals.' 'There are 36 Anti Poaching Camps (APC) in MTR, and we are also planning to construct a new APC with the involvement of tribals belonging to the Kattu Naicker, Kurumba, Malasar and Paniya communities,' the official pointed out. 'We had cleared Lantana camara on 725 hectares in four forest ranges of the core area in 2024-25. These were converted as briquettes by the tribals, and six tonnes of such briquettes have been produced so far,' said the official. The department staff carried out a baseline biodiversity assessment survey before and after the removal, through which they came to know that grass species grow naturally when the ground is exposed to the sun after the removal of Lantana camara.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kudumbashree's ‘Jana Galsa' to give tribal art forms a new lease of life
The Kudumbashree mission has launched a new initiative 'Jana Galsa' in an attempt to breathe new life into tribal art forms of the State. Jana Galsa, which means people's celebration in the Paniya tribal language, is intended to transform indigenous art forms into viable enterprises that can ensure livelihood for the tribal people and bring them income. It will be used as a medium for public awareness campaigns and even integrated into school curricula. The first phase of the project involves creation of a comprehensive directory of tribal art forms and artistes across the State through a survey, to be conducted through animators who belong to the Scheduled Tribes. The survey is expected to be completed by August 20. The Kudumbashree plans to set up a State-level consortium that incorporates the art forms that have been revitalised and transform them into models that can generate better employment and income. The project also aims at using the tribal arts forms for bring about changes in the curricula. Steps will be taken in association with the General Education department to include tribal art, culture, rituals and traditions, and indigenous cuisine into the curriculum to make the younger generation aware of their lives. The initiative will also be linked to anti-drug campaigns and other social awareness drives. The Kudumbashree's theatre group Rangashree, along with cultural tourism centres, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Kerala Institute for Research Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), and the Folklore Academy will also support the project.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Wayanad's tribal artists look to hit the right note on ‘fellowship' of music
KOZHIKODE: Until a few months ago, most of the 17 tribal musicians now part of the Earthlore Fellowship could have never imagined that their centuries-old songs would travel beyond the hills of Wayanad or the forest fringes of Coorg. For many, music was simply a way of life, performed during harvests, births, or rituals with no thought that these oral traditions would one day be showcased on prestigious stages or recorded for a global audience. The idea of receiving structured training, a stipend, mentorship from acclaimed musicians, and national recognition never even crossed their minds. That changed with the launch of the fellowship. Now, these young artists -- from communities such as the Kurichiya, Paniya, and Adiya -- find themselves at the heart of a cultural movement that is giving voice, value, and visibility to indigenous music like never before. A total of 20 fellows, including three non-tribal musicians from different parts of the country, have been selected through a rigorous process to join this pioneering initiative by the Archival and Research Project (ARPO), supported by Tata Trusts and the Samagata Foundation.
