KU project aims to uplift tribal community in Vithura

Thiruvananthapuram: Oppam, a six-month-long project for the upliftment of Manithookki tribe families in Vithura panchayat, aims to bring together the Kani tribe members of the panchayat and work towards empowering them to know about their rights and make use of their resources.
The project curated and headed by the sociology department of the University of Kerala in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra was inaugurated by K Radhakrishnan, minister for welfare of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes .
“The tribal community in Manithookki, which includes around 79 families, are gifted with their own set of talents of making different arts and crafts products. We are planning on conducting various classes to let them know about ways to make use of what they already have and possibly assist them in setting up their own enterprises. Under the guidance of the sociology department of the University of Kerala, the next phase of discussions involving the community members are to take place in four days which will finalise the course of the project,” said Manithookki ward member, Lovely JS.
According to Oppam programme director and the head of the sociology department of the university Sandhya R S, the programme will include classes on legal awareness, personality development, remedial coaching, career guidance, soft skills training, handicrafts workshops and even medical camps.
“We are planning on giving comprehensive training to equip them with better knowledge about their legal rights, health and hygiene and to especially assist those members, including senior citizens and children, who show any signs of learning disability. We would also enable them to realise the business potential of their native bamboo products through skills training workshops to teach the concepts of environment-friendly production and distribution methods along with effective marketing strategies,” she said.
The department also has plans to collect books and periodicals and set up a community library in the area. An exhibition and sale of items made by the people here in collaboration with the different government departments is another goal under project Oppam.