In the last 100 years, the people living in the isolated hamlet of Kathirimalai in Erode district of Tamil Nadu did not have a proper road. They had appealed to the authorities for building a road, but in vain. This long-standing demand is now set to be fulfilled, thanks to the current District Collector, H. Krishnanunni’s decision to bring development to the hamlet.
After a long wait, Kathirimalai will finally have a motorable road, as Collector Krishnanunni got it sanctioned. For the grateful people of the hamlet, he has become messiah-like, as the lack of a road was barring them from availing all kinds of government facilities and schemes.
Indian Masterminds spoke to District Collector H Krishnanunni, IAS, to get more details.
A REMOTE HAMLET
Kathirimalai, a remote hamlet in Bargur Panchayat Union in Anthiyur taluk, is located at an elevation of 1,200 metres inside the reserve forest of Chennampatti forest range in Erode Forest Division.
One has to traverse the rough terrain for 9 km on foot to reach the foothills. A total of 80 tribal families, comprising 294 members, belonging to Solaga community, have been living here for generations and are mostly engaged in cultivating crops for their consumption and rearing livestock.
A LONG-STANDING DEMAND
While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Collector H Krishnanunni said, “The demand of a road was pending for more than a hundred years. I worked as the Sub District Magistrate in this jurisdiction years back. therefore, I was aware of the issue these tribals were facing in commuting. Also, the road is very critical for them, as to take any government initiative, having a road is the minimum requirement.”
As people of the hamlet had to walk for three hours to reach Kathiripatti and proceed 13 km further on road to reach Kolathur to purchase essentials, Mr. Krishnanunni planned on quickly developing a road and turning this hamlet into a model village for the whole district.
ROAD SANCTIONED
A team of officials was soon sent from the Rural and Forest departments to the hilltop hamlet to study the issues and implement projects for the overall development of the people. It was found that motorable road is the priority for development, and the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) was asked to submit a proposal for laying roads.
Mr. Krishnanunni said, “After pursuing this for some time, we were able to get a road sanctioned for them and fulfill a hundred-year-old demand of the tribals. As a road wasn’t developed earlier, not many benefits could be availed by the poor and backward tribals living in that area.”
According to the officer, a single-layer water-bound macadam (WBM) road would be laid for 8 km at a total cost of ₹147.29 lakh under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), from Kathiripatti to Esalankadu in the hilltop.
MODEL VILLAGE
Outlining his further plans for the tribal hamlet, Mr. Krinanunni said, “Now we are taking various initiatives to take government schemes to this village, such as housing, transport, social development, providing essential certificates, etc. We are also trying to create employment for these tribals. Our complete focus is on their welfare.”
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid the foundation stone for the project through video conferencing on January 10. The work began after the Pongal holidays and is likely to be completed in six months.
