Tribal people at Manalthittu on Kodaikanal foothill near Palani block have been languishing without electricity and proper shelter. Even as some of basic amenities reach their door step, they cannot enjoy them owing to inordinate delay in helping them to use.
With no proper livelihood activities, they struggle in private farms for a meagre wage of Rs.30 to Rs.50 a day. That too is not permanent for them as farm owners offer jobs during peak farming season only. Once again, they go back to forests to collect forests produces for their survival.
Forest officials advised tribals living on the Kodaikanal hill to migrate to the foothill to enable them to live like others and become part of the society.
Thirty families migrated to Manalthittu a decade ago believing that they and their wards would get better facilities on a par with others in the plains. Manalthittu, a hillock near Andippatti, was shown to them to settle. They created temporary shelters to stay.
“Even after a decade, there is no change in our living condition. We cook and wash under open sky, live under thatched shelter and sleep on clay floor,” says S. Kaliammal. But migration had brought a few benefits to them.
Revenue officials offered ration cards, drinking water and street lights. Later, street lights did not function. Power connection was not given to houses. Now, they live in dark. Schoolchildren have to complete all activities before the sunset. Life in the plains is very tough for them. With no transport facility, children trek four km to reach primary school. Elders trek four km to buy PDS goods, 15 km to reach PHC and 35 km to reach GH in Palani, says P. Palanisamy.
Pregnant women too have to trek four km to board a bus even to reach the nearest hospital for delivery, says A. Karuppayi.
“We follow bees through their route to detect hives. We adopt the traditional method to squeeze honey without destroying bees. Such hard work fetches us just Rs.50 for 750 ml honey from local traders. If the government procured forest produces from us, we would get better price, Palanisamy appeals.
