Plan to document Kani tribes’ history

The objective is to protect their identity and take their knowledge to world

TIRUNELVELI Collector V. Vishnu has initiated steps for documenting the history, living conditions, livelihood, traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, festivals, culture, food habits, rituals etc. of Kani tribes living near Papanasam and Servalar Dams in the Western Ghats in the district with the objective of protecting their identity and taking their knowledge to the world. The tribes, known as Kanikkaran or Kani, are traditionally nomadic community living in the Western Ghats in Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts and speaking Tamil and Malayalam. They, living in Chinna Mayilaar, Periya Mayilaar and Injikuzhi areas of this scenic hilly region, cultivate lemon, cashew, jack fruit, tapioca, pepper and harvest minor forest produces like amla, honey etc. for their self-sustaining existence inside the jungles and sell these produce to the traders and the visitors coming to their place as tourists.