The Scheduled Tribes Development Department (STDD) has decided to relocate the tribal students of Government Ashram High School, Thirunelli, to Model Residential School at Aralam in Kannur district by November 10.

The Thirunelli school, known as Ashram School, is the sole residential school catering to Wayanad's most disadvantaged Paniya and Adiya tribal children.

According to STDD sources, the shifting process is expected to be completed by November 9, and classes at the Aralam premises will start on November 10.

Apart from the 257 Adiya and Paniya tribal students, 50-odd staff members too will be shifted to Aralam. The building for the Model Residential School at Aralam was constructed five years ago. But it got power and water supply connections in recent days.

Although the decision to shift the children to Aralam was taken in July after the girls hostel building was declared unfit by the Public Works Department (PWD), STDD delayed the process citing technical reasons.

News reports about the pathetic living condition of the tribal children at the school triggered a wave of protests less than two weeks ago, prompting the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the State Human Rights Commission to register suo motu cases and the government to respond proactively.

Child Rights Commission chairperson K.V. Manoj Kumar said that he had issued notices to the school authorities, and would soon hold a hearing in the issue.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Wayanad's MP, has raised concerns about relocating tribal students from Thirunelli to Aralam. She warned Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes, O.R. Kelu, that this move could lead to widespread dropouts.

Distance a challenge

Ms. Vadra said that no student should be shifted out of Thirunelli without their consent. A large number of students were reported to have expressed their unwillingness to relocate from Thirunelli to Aralam.

The 60-km distance between Aralam and Thirunelli may pose challenges for parents from across Wayanad visiting their children on weekends, potentially causing difficulties for families to maintain regular contact with their children.

Thirunelli Ashram tribal children to be shifted to Aralam by November 10