More than 200 tribal people living in Paliyankudi in Gudalur municipality have been languishing for basic amenities for five decades.
Even as they live within the Gudalur municipality, not many urban facilities have reached them till now. The only reason for the denial of facilities to them is that they reside within reserve forests of Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
They are at the mercy of forest officials who continuously ignore them and their appeals for basic amenities.
Situated on the foothills of Western Ghats, Paliyangudi is their home for centuries. They live for many generations without electricity, road and healthcare. With no road connectivity, education has become a distant dream for them.
Several tribal children face malnutrition. Parents are not sending their girl children to towns for higher classes. Medical facilities are not within their reach.
During the former Chief Minsiter M.G. Ramachandran’s regime, group houses were constructed for them and a piece of land was offered for their livelihood. They were allowed to collect forest produces for their livelihood.
First, Paliyankudi was brought under Gudalur town pancahyat, 12 km away. When Gudalur was upgraded into a municipality, it was merged with 21st ward, said Murugamani, a tribal woman.
“Declaration of sanctuary is a bane for us. Our houses are dilapidated. The Forest Department flatly denies permission even to repair them. Despite upgrading for two times, open defecation is still in practice. Swachh Bharat scheme does not reach us,” she added.
Neither the district administration nor the Gudalur municipality is allowed to lay road to Paliyangudi owing to a blanket ban. The Forest Department too didn’t do it, said officials. “We sent several letters to the Forests Department and held several meetings seeking permission. But, they would always say that they would take it up with higher officials in all meetings,” said a senior official at the Collectorate.
However, the municipality has provided drinking water supply and issued ration cards.
“We succeed in providing laplaptops to their children but not toilets and road,” he added.
The municipality had passed a resolution and applied for construction of a building for ration shop. Papers are still pending with the Forest Department. We paid ₹200 for autoriskshaw to buy free PDS rice, said tribal women.
The municipality has sufficient funds to provide amenities for Paliyangudi. But the Forest Department is a stumbling block. When Kerala Forests laid roads even in interior reserve forests, why the Forest Department in Tamil Nadu was so adamant to grant permission, they questioned.
Paliyangudi is the gateway to Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple on the Western Ghats. All walkers pass through this colony to climb the hill.
“We see electric lights only on Chitra Pournami as Forest officials grant permission to provide power connection for pilgrims’ convenience,” they said.
“We will have to wait for the next Pournami to see light again. With no electricity, schoolchildren have to complete all homework before the sunset,” the woman said.
Their only appeal is that forest officials should take efforts to protect the sons of the soil also while protecting wild animals.
