Tamil Nadu - Salem   

No roads, water and electricity for tribals of Arunoothumalai

SALEM: Even after six decades of Independence, the tribals of Arunoothumalai in Salem district are living without basic amenities.

The forest dwellers and tribals in the cluster of hills in Ayothiapattinam Union claim that they have not been provided with basic amenities such as roads, water, electricity etc. Nearly 5,000 of them are living in nine villages atop the hills.

Their wards are not able to pursue higher education due to lack of road facilities. They have to go to Belur, which is very far away, for higher secondary education and there is no adequate transport. They have to trek about 10 kilometres through hostile terrain to study. They asked the district administration to ply more buses to their villages. Roads to Pelapadi, Pallikadu, Thalur and Vazhuthu areas are very bad, even the farmers are not able to bring their produce. Forest officials also harass them, they allege. They demanded the administration to implement the Forest Act 2006 with immediate effect. Many of the tribal students are yet to receive community certificates. It takes 3 to 5 years for tribal students to get a certificate, which in turn hampers their educational pursuits, they said. Highlighting these demands, tribals from the hills under the banner of Thamizhaga Adivasi Amaippugalin Kootamaippu (TAAK), staged a demonstration here on Monday.

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