The COVID-19 lockdown has been especially hard for the children of Attappadi. Summer is when they run back into nature and reignite friendships in the neighbourhood. Thanks to the government’s education programmes, this was also a time to learn. But unfortunately, this time around, the time has been restricted to their homes. And unlike many of us, the internet is still a distant dream for many of these children.
To answer the very same, Attom Pattum (Dance and Music) was set up under the guidance of Attappadi’s Integrated Tribal Development Project, the Kudumbashree Mission, Uru (tribal residences) committees and the Tribal Children’s Affairs Committee. Students who are members of the Balagothra Sabha, children’s institutions set up under the Attappady Special Project have been performing every day since March 13 from 7.30 to 8pm on the Sabha’s Facebook page.
Sudheesh Kumar, a Young Professional with the Kudumbashree says, “We have been doing this over the past two weeks. The kids perform and create from their own localities in Attappadi. Through this, we also want promote a few tribal art forms from Attappadi that are now being forgotten. The Facebook page can be accessed from anywhere in the world.”
Mentor teachers are assigned a specific Uru where 4-5 children may live. Teachers travel to these homes where these children can watch Attom Pattum. The online event also hopes to help students have fun in the confines of their own homes and help them navigate any mental health issues that may develop during isolation. Children aged between 6 to 18 are urged to participate.
More than 8000 people tune in to the programme each night, according to Sudheesh. Out of this, around 4000 are made up of people watching from gothrams across Attappadi. The programmes in which children are invited to participate in include dance, talks and performances by important figures from various fields, the display of craftwork by the children themselves, recycled crafts, storytelling, quiz competitions, sharing experiences, singing folk songs, etc. They even got to perform with Nanjiyamma, a tribal singer who rose to fame with the film Ayyappanum Koshiyum.
The Balagothra sabha urges young people from around the state or anywhere else in the country to join in. Anyone who is interested aged between 10 to 18 can reach out through this WhatsApp number: 9048705686. Along with their submission, they must also mention their name, age and address. The best performers will receive a number of prizes.
Here are the various areas in which interested students can participate:
1 Painting competition - Subject: The COVID-19 epidemic
2 Gardening: Send a photo of your personal garden
3 Poetry writing- Subject: Expectation
4 Two-minute Documentary - Subject: Survival
5 My forest is also yours - A two-minute news report
6 Recycled crafts
7 Two-minute short film competition - Subject: Social distancing for social development
8 A folk song competition called Mani Mutham
9 Letter writing: Write a letter with love to a grandparent
10 Invention: A simple creation of your choice
Tune into Attom Pattum at: https://www.facebook.com/
