Tribes constitute about 1.14 per cent of the total population of Kerala (2001 census report). Attappady, the location of the present study, is the largest tribal settlement area of Kerala. The tribal folk of Attappady are the most backward among vulnerable ethnic groups of the state. They have a traditional economy depending mainly on land, livestock and forest. The population of (2001 Census) Attappady was 66,171 of which 27,121 belong to scheduled tribes. Tribes constitute about 41% of total population of Attappady, which comprises mainly of three ethnic groups, viz., "Irula," "Kurumba" and...