How the Narikuravars around Madurai are surviving on the sidelines

A lesser known nomadic tribe, the Narikuravars are trying to survive the lockdown on the outskirts of Madurai, with help from good samaritans and NGOs

Last year during Deepavali, Akiba Subahani saw a group of Narikuravars by the bank of river Vaigai. About 80 of them, from infants to old people, had left their shanties in Sakkimangalam, on the outskirts of Madurai, and come to the temple town in search of jobs. The lockdown had accentuated their misery as the nomadic tribe was robbed of their livelihood of making bead ornaments, telling fortunes, pachai kuthu (tattooing) and hunting. They frankly admitted that they feared poverty, hunger and deprivation more than the virus.