Collector R.V. Shajeevana, along with the villagers, walks on the newly laid cement road in Kottakudi panchayat in Theni district.
“My house is now easily reachable as we have road connectivity,” says R. Selvi, 40, of Kottakudi panchayat in Bodinayakkanur block in Theni district.
Until now, she has never seen a road to her house, she told The Hindu.
Since walking through the earthen soil was difficult, she never had any schooling. However, today, a happy and cheerful Selvi is all smiles, as tells people that the road to her dwelling has become a reality. “Better late than never,” she adds.
“In order to get the road, we submitted petition after petition to panchayat presidents, MLAs and so many others, who visited neighbouring habitations. We explained our ordeal and agony. Just because there was no road, none of them came to our habitation and it was a frightening experience for us,” she recalled.
It is after almost four decades or even longer than that, their dream has become a reality. Selvi thanked Collector R.V. Shajeevana, former Kottakudi panchayat president R. Rajendran and others.
Mr. Rajendran narrated the ordeal underwent by him in getting the road for the Scheduled Tribe community. “I promised them of the basic need and it has been kept only because of the sheer determination of the Collector,” he added.
When The Hindu contacted Ms Shajeevana, she said that considering the plight of the people living in the hills, she decided to get them the road laid first. As the forest department had to give clearance, the district administration wrote to them to hand over the stretch. The road to be laid was short, a distance of 220 metres though, but it was importance for the villagers.
“Today, things are different. People can commute with ease as a mini-bus comes to their habitation. It has come as a big relief to the people residing inside the hills,” she added.
Until about a month ago, commuting to neighbouring villages such as Mundal or travelling to Munnar for work was not possible or they had to commute with great difficulty. Moreover, be it male or female, trekking would not be practical beyond 5 p.m. “They cannot step out of their dwellings before sunrise,” the Collector further said.
So, when the clearance came from the forest department, she directed the officials to lay a cement road leading to the habitation, she said.
Assistant Project Officer Dhanasekaran, Assistant Engineer R. Sona from the District Rural Development Agency (Bodi Block) and their team were assigned with the task of completing the project. With Central fund of ₹30 lakh, they completed the project In record time.
Recently, the villagers invited the Collector and the officials and honoured them. “We all walked with the officers on the newly laid road. Our lives have got a new meaning,” they said.
Like the Kottakudi panchayat, with the Central and State funds of a little over ₹3 crore, a high-level bridge was constructed in Melaparavu in Anaiakaraipatti panchayat recently, following which the villagers, mostly from the Scheduled Tribes, are able to travel to places for jobs.
Explaining their plight, Ms Shajeevana said the villagers had to cross the river with the help of a long rope to reach the other side. The situation would be worse during the monsoon. Many children refused to go to school due to fear of drowning.
Today, the high -level bridge of about 50 metres length has changed the lives of the people as travelling has become easier.
New grievance
With the road and bridge in place, womenfolk from Melaparavu led by Vanitha said they had submitted a fresh set of grievances to officials.
The Collector told them that they should send their children to schools. “If you promise to send your wards to the schools, the government will give you more and more facilities,” the Collector told the petitioners.
They were seeking mobile phone towers, increased bus facilities, with at least two each in the morning and evening, and a ration shop, among others.
Published – February 06, 2025 09:32 pm IST