MULTI-DIMENSIONAL INTENSITY OF POVERTY AMONG IRULA TRIBES IN IN TAMILNADU: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract

This study examines the severe and multifaceted nature of poverty among the Irula tribes, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), in the Thiruporur and Gummidipoondi blocks of Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. The analysis shows that 95.62% of the Irula households in the sample are below the poverty line (₹2,068), and an unbelievable 83.12% are considered destitute (consumption ₹1,000). The Overall Sen's Index of 0.683 shows that there is a lot of poverty, but the type of poverty varies by location. Thiruporur (0.719) has the highest overall intensity, which is caused by the highest prevalence (HCR: 0.789) and the biggest internal inequality (Gini: 0.856). Gummidipoondi (0.632) demonstrates a deeper level of deprivation since it has the greatest Income Gap Ratio (IGR: 0.776), which means that the poor are even further below the poverty line. This intensity comes from systemic exploitation (being very likely to be forced into bonded labor), losing traditional ways of making a living, and having long-term problems with education (poor literacy) and health (malnutrition/anaemia).