Historical geography of Eranad

Abstract

Immigration, forced or voluntary, is an inevitable part of any nation and traces back its origin to human history itself. Invasions and evacuations could be the underlying foundations of any Civilization. As a result, displacement, statelessness, and rehabilitation are not mere historical events but lived realities that continue to shape the lives of communities, all over the world and all over the ages. Displacement, in a close analysis, not only reshapes the lives of people but also deeply affects their identities and livelihoods. The Indian-origin Sri Lankan repatriated Tamils represent a population that has long struggled with issues of identity, livelihood, and integration. This study explores their rehabilitation and financial inclusion in Kerala, where 1,599 families were resettled across five plantations managed by Kerala Forest Development Corporation and the Rehabilitation Plantation Limited. The central problem of this research arises from their persistent socio-economic disadvantages, their limited access to financial resources, and the uncertainty surrounding the sustainability of plantations. Although financial inclusion has been widely researched, the quality dimension remains the least considered, leaving a critical gap in understanding and addressing the true inclusiveness of financial systems for this ‘marginalized group’. This research aimed to examine the socio-economic status of the repatriates, the level of financial inclusion, the role of government and non-governmental agencies, the challenges they face, and the sustainability of the rehabilitation process. It employed a mixed-methods approach and gathered data from 315 respondents with an interview schedule using a stratified random sampling technique, supplemented by a questionnaire with estate managers and secondary data from KFDC and RPL, and other official records. The analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly using non-parametric tests. The findings show pathetic socio-economic conditions with low-income levels, weak asset ownership, limited education, and over-dependence on estate work. Despite universal account holding, financial inclusion is poor, with low access to loans, insurance, and digital banking. Even though the welfare dependency is high, housing and pensions are inadequate, and NGO participation comes to a naught, in the estates. The community continues to experience an identity crisis, which is marked by feelings of being second-class citizens, mental distress, and social exclusion. The sustainability of the rehabilitation plantations is moderate. The study is significant because these people remain marginalized with limited socio-economic integration, and its findings can help shape policies for inclusive development. For they are often haunted by the gnawing question, ‘Where do we belong?’ The theoretical implication of this study is to deepen the understanding of financial inclusion among marginalized repatriates, linking Socio-Economic Mobility and Marginal Man theories to highlight the influence of education, income, and identity. It recommends promoting vocational training, expanding housing support, diversifying incomes through eco-tourism and entrepreneurship, increasing NGO participation, strengthening awareness of repatriate-specific financial schemes, and providing community-oriented social interaction programmes. Fundamentally, the study substantiates that the unified efforts by the government, civil society, and financial institutions are essential to ensure sustainable rehabilitation and to strengthen socio-economic resilience.