The defunct Japan-aided Attappady Hill Area Development Society (AHADS), which contributed much to eco-restoration and tribal welfare initiatives in the region, would soon be brought under the Local Administration Department as an extended training and skill development facility. A high-level meeting held in Thrissur on Friday in the presence of Minister of Local Self-Governments K.T. Jaleel decided to merge it with Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). The Kottarakkara-based State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) also would be brought under KILA.
Department sources said the mergers would help KILA attain the position of an international centre of excellence. After international funds stopped arriving, successive governments had sidelined AHADS. About 180 buildings constructed by the society as part of its eco-restoration initiatives were in a state of neglect. Some of them are frequented by antisocial elements. A dozen AHADS vehicles have been remaining idle for two years.
With the tribal village development samithis formed under AHADS to supervise construction works becoming defunct, contractors and middlemen have been siphoning off public money meant for tribal welfare.
Facilities planned
The main campus of AHADS at Agali in Attappady would be made a training centre in natural resources management soon. It would have facilities to train officials in wetland conservation and management. The government is also planning to implement several tribal welfare schemes using facilities of AHADS. “The project helped in afforestation of 11,000 hectares of barren land and brought 5,000 hectares of fallow land under cultivation. It implemented soil and water conservation projects in 17,000 hectares. A tribal hamlet development project was implemented and 1,056 houses were built besides renovating 177 houses. A hospital with 40 beds was constructed at Agali,” says S. Palanisamy, a tribesman and former casual employee of the society.
