T.N. Assembly election 2026: Scheduled Tribe communities in delta region hope for redemption from poverty under new government

Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities in the Cauvery delta region are facing challenges including high school dropout rates, juvenile marriages, and child labor. Activists advocate for government intervention to address these issues through education and improved living conditions. Community leaders, like Karai R. Subramanian, president of the Tamil Nadu Narikuravar Kootamaippu (TNNK), highlight the need for ST certificates to access land ownership and financial assistance. They also point out inadequate housing conditions as a contributing factor to social problems among ST families.