The Scheduled Tribes Development Department (STDD) has decided to shift the tribal students of Government Ashram High School, Thirunelli to the Model Residential School at Aralam in Kannur district by November 10.
Known as the Ashram School, Thirunelli School is the only residential school for the most underprivileged children of the Paniya and Adiya tribes in Wayanad.
According to STDD sources, the shifting process is expected to be completed by November 9 and classes at the Aralam premises will begin on November 10.
Apart from the 257 Adiya and Paniya tribal students, 50 staff will also be shifted to Aralam. The building for the model residential school in Aralam was constructed five years ago. In recent days, however, it has received electricity and water connections.
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.
Reports of the deplorable living conditions of 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 proactively respond.
Child Rights Commission Chairman KV Manoj Kumar said he has issued a notice to the schools and will soon hold a hearing on the matter.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Member of Parliament for Wayanad, raised concerns about the relocation of tribal students from Thirunelli to Aralam. She warned the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, OR Kelu, that the move could lead to widespread blackouts.
Distance is a challenge
Ms. Vadra said that no student should be dropped from Thirunelli without their consent. A large number of students were reported to have expressed their reluctance to relocate from Thirunelli to Aralam.
The 60-km distance between Aralam and Thirunelli can pose challenges for parents from across Wayanad visiting their children on weekends, which can cause problems for families to maintain regular contact with their children.
Published – 01 Nov 2025 20:25 IST
