The Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society, a cooperative society of Irula tribals located on Chennai's outskirts, is facing an uncertain future.
About Irula Tribe:
Irulas are one of India’s oldest indigenous communities.
They are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
They live primarily in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, as well as in parts of Kerala and Karnataka.
Language: Their language, Irula, is related to Tamil and Kannada, which are southern Dravidian languages.
Religious Beliefs:
The Irula people don’t have a definite god for them. They are pantheists who make provision for the presence of spirits in humans and objects.
Their main deity is a virgin goddess called Kanniamma, who is deeply associated with the cobra.
Irula houses are built together in small settlements or villages called mottas. The mottas are usually situated on the edges of steep hills and are surrounded by a few dry fields, gardens and forests or plantations.
Traditionally, they have been skilled hunters, gatherers and honey collectors, relying on the forest for their sustenance and livelihood.
They are specialists in traditional herbal medicine and healing practices.
Irulas' knowledge of snakes and snake venom is legendary. Their expertise is often sought after in snake rescue and rehabilitation projects.
The Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society is a major producer of anti-snake venom (ASV) in the country. It supplies almost 80 percent of the venom that goes into making anti-venom in India.
They use traditional knowledge and skills to catch snakes, extract venom, and release the snakes back into the wild without harming them.
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