Irumban

Irumban refers to a tribal community found primarily in the Attappadi region of Kerala, India. They are one of the three major tribal groups in the area, the others being the Mudugar and Kurumbar. The Irumban people have a distinct culture and language, which is related to, but distinct from, Malayalam and other Dravidian languages. Traditionally, their livelihood has been based on agriculture, gathering forest produce, and cattle rearing. The Irumban community, like other tribal groups in India, faces various challenges related to land rights, access to education and healthcare, and cultural preservation in the face of modernization. Efforts are being made by the government and non-governmental organizations to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Irumban people and to safeguard their cultural heritage.