Lack of basic facilities is dogging the people of Edamalakudy, the first tribal grama panchayat in the State.
The camp office of the grama panchayat is situated at Devikulam, where the tribal people have to travel 8 km from Munnar for getting their officials works done. Reason: lack of facilities at the grama panchayat at Societykudy.
With the only road from Pettimudy to Idaliparakudy washed away, people have to walk till Pettimudy, nearly 18 km from Societykudy, and from there they have to travel 30 km to Munnar and then to Devikulam.
Grama panchayat president Kanniamma Rangarajan said that meetings were held at Edamalakudy grama panchayat (at Societykudy) without officials.
Chinnan, ward member of Melpathamkudy, said their miseries increased with the creation of the Edamalakudy grama panchayat.
‘‘Earlier when it was a ward of the Munnar grama panchayat, we had to reach only Munnar for official requirements. But now we have to take an additional 16 km for the purpose. For the poor people, even when the road was motorable, an amount of Rs.120 had to be spent to reach Munnar,’’ he said.
‘‘And if the services are not prompt, there may have to stay back at Munnar for a night,’’ he said.
According to an official of the grama panchayat, the office at Devikulam was initially opened for providing funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). After that, it continued as a camp office and there were no basic facilities for officials at Edamalakudy.
Documentation is possible only at Devikulam as there is internet and power connection. This is said to be the reason why the camp office is continuing there. Mr. Chinnan said the camp office was set up at Devikulam only for the benefit of officials and not for the people.
He said each and every person had to travel there for getting services such as pension, subsidies, and certificates done.
As the 26 settlements in the forest are scattered over a wide area, people from remote settlements such as Mulakautharakudy have to cover a long distance to reach Societykudy. From there to reach Devikulam, they have to start the journey at wee hours.
He said the immediate need was to shift the office to Edamalakudy and post officials who would be ready to work there.
