Govt. provides jobs to sons of two Irula snake catchers

Sons of Irula snake catchers secure government jobs, improving family livelihoods and enabling better education opportunities.

The Chengalpattu District Administration has provided jobs to the sons of two Irula snake catchers – Masi Sadayan and Vadivel Gopal – who were awarded the Padma Shri in 2023.

Collector D. Sneha handed over the appointment orders to the school dropouts, Suresh Vadivel, 27, and Thangarasu Masi, 35. The former has been appointed as a gardener, and the latter as a night watchman at the Ekalaiva Model Residential School at Kumili near Kalavai.

 The jobs have been provided to the wards of the snake catchers as their fathers are too old to be given government employment. 

“We are happy that we have a proper job now. We will definitely get better pay, and that too, throughout the year. Snake catching is only seasonal. We get just ₹650/day if we work as construction labourers, which is not enough to manage our families,” they said.

Mr. Vadivel, who is a licensed snake catcher, said that with this salary, they would definitely educate their children. “Education is the only way forward. Many people in our community are illiterate. We quit studies since the school in our village, Chenneri, has only till Class 8. The nearest schools are at Tiruporur, which is 10 km away, and Chengalpattu, at a distance of 13 km. We cannot travel so much for the sake of school,” he said.

Mr. Masi said that he did not learn snake catching since his father did not want him to continue the family trade. “I hunt for other jobs to keep my family afloat. I have two girl children,” he added.