Who are Sholagas?
- Who are Sholagas?
- Challenges faced by Sholaga Community
- Reformation of Sholaga community
- Details of Reformation undertaken by Charis International Missions
- Activities successfully executed by Charis International Missions
- Supports required for effective execution of reformation work
Sholaga community is a sub-sect of the original Sholagas tribe who lived in the hills of Southern Karnataka.
After the enforcement of the Forest act 1878 all the activities were stopped.
They were forced out of the hills by the local chieftains and roughly around 1,000 Sholaga families were displaced.
For over 100 years, this clan have moved across three states, while some settled down in Andhra, others settled in Madurai and Tiruvallur.
During these movements, they acquired begging as their profession and lashed themselves with a ‘saatai’ (a whip made of tightly wound jute fibres) to win sympathy and money for their survival.
Current occupants, 120 odd families (1000 members) at JJ Nagar a hillock around 12 kms from Avadi had moved in 2010. Natarajan is their leader (Pera Moopar). Some of them resettled to places like Alamadi and Thamarai pakkam also.
"Very few older children go to the nearby government school. Most of the children, toddlers and infants accompany the women to beg in the city. The older men carry whips and lashes on themselves to earn their daily living. "
