Basic amenities, regulatory markets for vegetables and arecanut are prominent demands of Yercaud residents

The Yercaud (ST) constituency, which covers Yercaud and Vazhapadi taluks as well as portions of Salem and Attur taluks, is predominantly a tribal area. The tribal people primarily reside in Yercaud, Neiyamalai, Aranoortumalai, Jambuthumalai, Pelapadi, and Santhumalai. It is considered an AIADMK stronghold as the party has won eight times – 1977, 1980, 1989 (as AIADMK (J)), 1991, 2001, 2011, 2016, and 2021. In the byelection held in 2013, also the AIADMK won. The Congress won it in 1957, 1962, and 1984, and the DMK won it in 1967, 1971, 1996, and 2006.

This tourist destination’s main demand is for basic amenities.

R. Ramalingam, a resident of Yercaud, said that there is no drinking water facility for tourists visiting Yercaud. They have to buy bottled water from shops. There are no proper public toilets or parking facilities available at important locations in the hill station. Tourists park their vehicles on the roadsides, resulting in traffic congestion during weekends and on holidays, he added.

S. Jayaraman, a farmer, said that arecanut is cultivated on over 10,000 hectares in Vazhapadi, Singipuram, and Vaithiyagoundanpudur. Arecanut worth ₹9,600 crore was sold during the last year. However, this has not benefitted the growers as much as the middlemen. The farmers have demanded a regulatory market for arecanut at Vazhapadi.

K. Kannan, a resident of Vazhapadi, said that brinjal, tomato, lady’s finger and spinach are cultivated on 65% of the land in and around Vazhapadi taluk, and arecanut and other crops are cultivated in the remaining area. The vegetables harvested here are sent to the Thalaivasal market, located 50 km away. Farmers are unable to get a proper price for their produce. A cold storage warehouse with a capacity to store 100 tonnes was constructed seven years ago on Singipuram main road, but it has not come into operation. This warehouse should be operated, and a regulatory market for vegetables should also be established in Vazhapadi Taluk, he added.

S. Mohan, a resident of Singipuram, said that students, especially tribal students from various places in the Yercaud constituency, have to go to Attur or Salem for higher studies. The need for a government arts college in Vazhapadi taluk remains a dream.

The Yercaud constituency is expected to see a four-cornered contest in the Assembly election, with the DMK, AIADMK, TVK, and NTK in the fray.