Discussion and Analysis

We (Yesh, Hemu, Partha) held a discussion with the youth group comprising of Ponnalagan, Pandian, Aandichaami, Sambapathy, Ramasamy and others.

We took up one point for discussion - Education in the village. Ponnalagan is one of the first persons to study upto XII. He helped other youngsters to study by provind them text books, arranging tuitions, following up their progress in studies etc. He ensured that 7 of them got thru XII. Two of these are doing their bachelors degree - BSW and B.Sc (Comp Sci).

He states emphatically that his priority is to get one of them into a job. If that happens, then that person will surely help the other youngsters from the village to study and get into jobs.

Since the aim was clear, we asked them, what are our hurdles?

1. The students require regular followup after they are admitted into Government hostels. Regular visits to the hostels is difficult as they have to spend from their own pockets.

2. The practice of senior students mentioring junior students is a very good practice and we shall continue that.

3. The students aspire for courses like diploma, engineering etc. But, due to fee constraint, they join whatever course they can afford. For example, one student studying BSW wanted to study veterinary science, but could afford only the BSW course.

4. The tribal students face discrimination in their colleges and hostels and authorities are biased against them.

5. The students lack information about courses, career options etc

6. The youth club needs better infrastructure for conducting classes. They need to repair the black board urgently.

7. The youth club needs one staff to run the centre, maintain the library etc.

8. The youth club needs funds for its functioning.

9. The students need support to get into jobs.

We said, ok, pick out 2-3 issues that would solve most of your problems w.r.t education.

1. Support for the students to get jobs
2. Fund support for the activities of the youth club
3. Information on courses, career etc.

At the end, we could see that the following three things could be done to support the youth club in Malaiyur.

1. Financial support.
2. Careeer Counselling.
3. Consultancy for setting up computer facilities for easy access to information.

As a first step, Ponnalagan is working on a detailed plan based on our discussion and is meeting other villagers and village leaders to mobilise funds for the youth club.

People of Malaiyur

Hi, I am Ponnalagan

Me, My Family and Friends

Youth meeting in progress

The youth Club - it has a library and organizes tuition classes for the village youth.

Ponnalagan's mom - "This is my kitchen". The bright area near her feet is the chulha burning. She served us sumptuous food - rice, beans, sambar and curd. Dessert was a serving of sweet yummy pure honey.

A lady in the village walks by as children look on..

Old man "Shoot properly or i'll beat u with this stick" A lady goes past to fetch water.

Pandian - he scored over 80% in his X exam.


Pandian in the news! Receiving a prize for his achievement..

Another News article about Malaiyur

An old lady tending cattle.

Malaiyur Village Settlement

Houses in Malaiyur - simple and elegant.

A closer look at a house. "Mummy, what is this man pointing at us" wonders the little girl.

Note how clean the street is. Lazy dogs are sleeping in the afternoon. Like the saying goes, "Let sleeping dogs lie". Hey, why isn't anyone looking at the camera.

The village school. Why's it so neat and tidy? No one goes there, thats why. The school teacher wrote stories while he was here and shifted to Chennai so that his son can get into movies.

Livelihoods in Malaiyur - Animal Husbandry

No! its not a tribal house. Its a small shack for storing hay for cattle as well as for rearing goats.

Goat feeding on grass suspended in mid air.

Cattle busy grazing as always..
At first sight they looked like peacocks, but Yesh had a good laugh before telling me that these are sandai kozhi (fighting cocks)


A clearer view of Sandai Kozhi (fighting cocks)

Horses are the beast of burden of this area..

Livelihoods in Malaiyur - Agriculture

Beans cultivation is very common
Land being readied for sowing groundnut

Irrigation by pumpsets - water is easily available
A horse carrying load of Mangoes to the market

Livelihoods in Malaiyur - Making Furniture

A visit to Ponnalagan's "manufacturing unit"


Ponnalagan shows us furniture made out of stem of a local thorny bush. The furniture are quite strong and durable. After polishing, the furniture fetch a good price.

The thorns used as raw material in making Furniture

On the way to Malaiyur

In the autorickshaw from Natham town to Malaiyur base.
To get to Natham from Madurai, travel to Tirupatthur and
take a bus to Dindugal or Kodaikanal and alight at Nattham.

Yeswant(Left), Ponnagalan(Centre) and Hemanathan(Right).
We've just started the one and half hour trek to Malaiyur.

View of neighbouring hills .

Horses(or Mules) carrying loads of Mango to the base of the hill.

Can you see the road cutting through the hills?