Residents erected banners against voting in the upcoming elections. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Residents of remote tribal villages that make up Pungampattu Nadu and Nellivasal Nadu village panchayats in the Jawadhu Hills near Tirupattur town have installed banners in their villages asking political parties not to visit their villages to seek votes for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as they have failed to provide civic amenities to these villages all these years.
Pungampattu Nadu, Pudur Nadu and Nellivasal Nadu are the three main tribal villages on the Tirupattur side of the Jawadhu Hills. These panchayats include 32 tribal villages, mostly in the hills with around 19,000 voters. These remote tribal villages are located deep in the reserve forests (RF) that fall under the Tirupattur range in the hills.
“Many sick people, including pregnant women, die on the way to the hospital over the years as we have not been able to take them to the government hospital in Jolarpet or Tirupattur towns in the plains,” said V. Mayan, a tribal.
As repeated pleas to government authorities and elected representatives failed to improve their living conditions, residents in their settlements erected banners against voting in the upcoming elections. They also asked political parties not to visit their hill settlements for votes. “Tribals move to places like Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore for work as they are unable to transport agricultural produce from the hills to the plains due to bad roads,” said G. Sokki, a resident.
On average, each tribal village has around 40-50 families. Currently, residents only have access to muddy roads to reach these villages for their daily work. Due to the lack of roads, there are no bus services or ambulances available to them. Pregnant women are carried by able-bodied men to health centers in these villages.
Farmers mainly grow millets, vegetables and vegetables. Collecting honey was the main occupation. Agricultural produce is carried on foot and sold in local markets in Jolarpet and Tirupattur. There are fair-priced shops in the village, but during the monsoon, rations cannot be transported due to the steep, muddy terrain. Card holders have to walk down the hills to Pudur village to buy rations. “We will take up these matters with the district administration,” said a DRDA official.
Published – 21 March 2026 22:50 IST
