INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY

Abstract: This article examines the role of Oorukoottam, a community-based indigenous governance institution, in enhancing the educational quality of life of the Kurichiya tribe in Wayanad district of Kerala. Education is treated as a key indicator of quality of life, influencing awareness, empowerment, social mobility, and participation in development processes. The study is guided by the central hypothesis that the re-formulated Oorukoottam has made a significant contribution to improving the educational life of the Kurichiya community. The article is structured in two major parts. The first part presents a historical and contextual analysis of the educational conditions of the Kurichiya tribe prior to the introduction of Oorukoottam, focusing on access to schooling, literacy levels, cultural attitudes towards formal education, and institutional support mechanisms. The second part is based on an empirical investigation using primary data collected from 75 Kurichiya respondents through a structured interview schedule. Twenty education-specific indicators were used to assess changes in educational quality of life before and after the implementation of Oorukoottam. The collected data were systematically tabulated and analysed using appropriate statistical techniques to identify significant variations. The findings reveal that Oorukoottam has played a decisive role in improving educational access, awareness, and participation among the Kurichiya tribe, thereby strengthening their capacity for social integration, community development, and sustainable empowerment.