Cholanaikkan Tribe: One of Kerala's PVTGs

Category: Society → Tribes → Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

Location

The Cholanaikkans primarily inhabit the forested areas of:

  • Nilambur

  • Malappuram district

  • Kerala

They are associated particularly with the Karulai and Chungathara forest regions.

Traditional Lifestyle

Historically associated with:

  • Hunting

  • Gathering

  • Fishing

  • Forest produce collection

Language

The Cholanaikkan language is a distinctive Dravidian language/dialect without a conventional written script.

Special Significance

They are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

UPSC Key Pointers

Cholanaikkan → Kerala → Malappuram → Nilambur → PVTG → hunter-gatherer tradition