6 tribal children in Mangappara colony denied schooling; rights panel steps in

Idukki: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has intervened in the case of six tribal children from Mangappara Colony, near the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, who have been denied access to school education.

Acting on a media report, the commission, chaired by Justice Alexander Thomas, took the case suo motu and directed the Idukki District Collector to take urgent action. The Collector has been asked to convene a joint meeting of key officials, including the District Education Officer, District Women and Child Development Officer, Panchayat representatives, and the Scheduled Tribe Development Officer, to resolve the issue.

In line with the Right to Education Act, the Collector must submit a detailed action-taken report within four weeks. Separate reports are also to be filed by the District Education Officer, Women and Child Development Officer, and ST Development Officer within the same period.

The Commission has also summoned officials from the Revenue Department, Women and Child Development Department, District Panchayat, and ST Development Department to appear at its next sitting on September 2, to be held at the PWD Rest House in Thodupuzha.

Most of the affected children are between five and eight years old, with one of them eligible to attend an anganwadi (pre-school). The nearest lower primary school is located in Champakkad Colony, about eight kilometres away. However, the lack of transportation makes access nearly impossible. The only way to reach the school is by walking through a forest path known to be frequented by tigers and leopards — a dangerous route that small children cannot navigate. Even vehicles under the Vidyavahini project do not reach the area due to the absence of proper roads.

A single-teacher school once operated in the settlement, offering basic education to local children. But after the state government shut down all such schools a few years ago, the community was left without any accessible educational facility. Initially, parents tried to get their children to school despite the challenges. But the long, exhausting commute took a toll on their daily livelihoods, forcing them to give up.

While older children now study from hostels in Marayur and nearby areas, younger ones are unwilling to live away from their parents, says village chief Thirumala Swami. He has called on the authorities to either reopen a single-teacher school in the colony or ensure alternative arrangements are made, warning that otherwise, the children’s access to primary education will be lost. Currently, work is underway to carve a road into the colony under the employment guarantee scheme. Thirumala Swami urged officials to expedite its completion so that vehicles can finally reach the settlement.