Archive · 2 Aug 2026
Cholanaikkan Tribe Receives Government Documents in Kerala
The Cholanaikkan tribe is one of the last cave‑dwelling groups in Asia.
On August 2, 2024, 20 members of the tribe came out of the forest in Malappuram, Kerala, to get important papers from the government.
They walked about eight kilometres from the forest to a court in Nilambur.
At the event, they received health cards, caste certificates, bank accounts, and a ration card.
They were happy and thanked the minister and the local MLA before returning to the forest.
This helps the tribe get the same services as other people in the state.
Twenty Cholanaikkan tribe members walked 8 km from the forest to Nilambur to receive documents.
The event was organized by the Malappuram district administration and the Forest Department.
Participants received health cards, caste certificates, bank accounts, and a ration card.
The tribe members expressed gratitude to Minister K A Thulasi and MLA Aryadan Shoukath.
The Cholanaikkan tribe rarely leaves the forest, making this outreach significant.
- Who
- Members of the Cholanaikkan tribe, district officials, Minister K A Thulasi, MLA Aryadan Shoukath
- What
- Tribe members received health cards, caste certificates, bank accounts, and a ration card
- When
- Sunday, August 2, 2024
- Where
- Nilambur, Malappuram district, Kerala
- Why
- To provide essential government documents to a community that rarely leaves the forest
- Event date
- Sunday, August 2, 2024
- Location
- Nilambur, Malappuram district, Kerala
- Participants
- 20 Cholanaikkan tribe members
- Documents received
- health cards, caste certificates, bank accounts, ration card
- Organizers
- Malappuram district administration, Forest Department