Tribals near Tirupattur town threaten to boycott polls due to lack of basic facilities

Residents of remote tribal hamlets that form Pungampattu Nadu and Nellivasal Nadu village panchayat atop Jawadhu Hills near Tirupattur town have installed banners in their villages, asking political parties not to visit their villages to canvass for votes for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, as they failed to provide civic amenities to these villages all these years. 

Pungampattu Nadu, Pudur Nadu, and Nellivasal Nadu are three major tribal villages on the Tirupattur side of Jawadhu Hills. These panchayats comprise 32 tribal hamlets, mostly atop the hills with around 19,000 voters. These remote tribal hamlets are located deep inside reserve forests (RF) that come under the Tirupattur forest range in the hills.

“Many sick persons, including pregnant women die on the way to hospital over the years as we were unable to shift them to the government hospital in Jolarpet or Tirupattur towns in the plains,” said V. Mayan, a tribal. 

As repeated pleas with government authorities and elected representatives have not improved their living conditions, residents erected banners in their hamlets against voting for the upcoming elections. They have also asked political parties not to visit their hamlets in the hillocks for votes. “Tribals have been migrating to places like Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore for work as they are unable to transport farm produce from the hills to plains due to bad roads,” said G. Sokki, a resident.

On an average, each tribal hamlet has around 40-50 families. At present, only muddy pathways are available for residents to reach these villages for their day-to-day work. Due to lack of roads, bus services and ambulances are not available to them. Pregnant women are carried by able men to health centres in these villages. 

Farmers cultivate mostly millets, vegetables, and greens. Honey collection was a major occupation. Farm produce is carried on foot to sell them in local markets in Jolarpet and Tirupattur towns. Fair price shops exist in the village but during monsoon, rations cannot be transported due to steep slushy terrain. Cardholders have to walk down the hills to Pudur village to buy rations. “We will take up these issues with the district administration,” said a DRDA official.