Nestled deep in the Nallamala forests, Palutla used to be visited once in five years by officials and that too by using helicopters, for purpose of holding elections!
As a result, good governance had gone for a toss and the inhabitants struggled to meet even their basic necessities at a time when their population was dwindling for various reasons.
The sorry state of affairs is now a thing of the past, thanks to adoption of the last tribal village in Prakasam district, inhabited by about 1,500 Chenchu and Sugali tribals, by none other than district Joint Collector Hari Jawaharlal on a call given by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Interventions
“The entire district administration is now at the doorsteps of the tribal households determined to improve their quality of life through several interventions like imparting appropriate skills to women, facilitating production of crops by tribals, spotting talented youth and putting them into academies to turn them into civil servants etc.,” explains Dr. Jawaharlal to The Hindu during a visit to the tribal habitat after an arduous journey through thick forests dotted with 29 rivulets on route, including Kamakshammavagu, Ankaletivagu, Nekkantivagu, Peddavagu, Vippalamadeva vagu and Jenkudabonda Vagu.
The village, through which high tension wires taking power from the Srisailam hydro-electric power station to the plains pass, has been deprived of electricity even 68 years after Independence as laying of conventional power lines was ruled out since the tribals lived close to the habitat of the big cats in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger sanctuary.
Solar power
Now they can enjoy the benefits of electrification, thanks to the solar power system put up by the Non-conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited and the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited in their village at a cost of Rs. 1 crore, explains the Joint Collector, satisfied over his successful efforts to provide lighting for 300 habitations and 25 street lights.
Recognition of the Forest Rights Act had come as a boon for more than 100 tribals, who are now farmers with self-esteem growing among other crops chilli and cotton in 360 acres of land with the help diesel engine electric motors supplied by the district administration.
To develop the village into self-sustaining one, subsidised milch cattle and poultry birds are being arranged by the Animal Husbandry Department, he says. Interested women were supplied tailoring machines and provided training to stitch clothes for villagers and others to augment family income.
Demand for pucca road
Though some of their basic needs are met now, there is still a long way to go as motorable road remains a distant dream as also protected drinking water, says a villager Tulsi Naik. They still use the well said to have been constructed during the time of medieval emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya to draw drinking water, adds Chinna Kasi Naik.
The one demand voiced by every tribal in the village is a pucca road to Yerragondapalem to take their near and dear ones to hospital in case of medical emergencies, market the crops grown with great toil and educate their sons and daughters without hassles, says another villager Dasavath Balu Naik. “I lost my pregnant daughter while moving her to a hospital through the tough terrain,” laments yet another tribal Chandu Naik.
A proposal has been submitted to the State government for laying a road with compensatory afforestation component, says Yerragondapalem MLA P. David Raju. “The TDP will leave no stone unturned to get the Centre's nod.”
