Sakkliyar is a Dalit community of manual scavengers that migrated to Kochi in during the middle of 20th century from areas bordering Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. As the local manual scavengers rose in protest for an increase in wages in the 1950, K.J Hershel, who was then the Muncipal Chairman of Kochi brought them to Kochi. Presently, there are about 90 families in Rameshwaram Colony near Fort Kochi. Being the nature of the work that they did, the elder community members have stories of how they were treated with utmost contempt by the other denizens. Since the advent of septic tanks and other more scientific ways of human excreta disposal, the lives of Sakkliyars have improved considerably. The language that they use within the community is a rare blend of Tamil and Telugu. The community preserve their cultural identity and to till day celebrate Tamil festivals like Mattupongal, Krishipongal etc.
