Salem: This powerless' village gets a polling booth

Salem: Every election, they would trudge 8 km down a jungle terrain infested with bear and leopards, then travel by bus by 80 km to cast their precious vote in the elections.

However, this election the villagers of Kathirimalai in Anthiyur constituency in Erode district don’t have to travel so far. The Election Commission has given the nod for a polling booth at the tribal hamlet of Kathirimalai with 160 voters from 75 families.

For the first time, the  polling booth will arrive at their doorstep. “A polling booth has been sanctioned in Kathirimalai,” Anthiyur constituency returning officer, P.Menaka told the DC.

But villagers are in no mood to vote. They have threatened boycott of the election because the tribal hamlet remains powerless even 69 years after Independence.

“What is the point in giving us an election booth. There is no electricity and there is no motorable road too,” says 48-year-old T. Kirayan, a farmer in Kathirimalai.

The Jayalalithaa government’s freebies like fan, mixer and grinder have all arrived in their households. “But where is the power to use the free fan, mixer and grinder?” ask village women. There is an elementary school in the hamlet but most times it remains closed without teachers.

Only one girl in the hamlet is staying in a hostel and studying up to plus-2 while most students drop out because they have to trudge 16 km up and down every day. For half of the villagers the nearest shop is about 80 km away. “About 30 families have been allotted a ration shop at Bargur which is 80 km away while others can get rations at Kathiripatti itself,” rues Kirayan.

The villagers of Kathirimalai have to trek down an 8 km rugged hill road to reach the nearest bus stop. Every election, they would climb down to Govindapadi and take a two  and a half hour bus drive to reach the polling station at Bargur.

 But DC report during the Parliamentary election was an eye-opener for the administration as they provided an exclusive bus for the villagers to cast their vote. Now, a separate polling booth has been allotted at Kathirimalai.

“But we won’t vote unless the administration promises road and electricity supply for us,” chorus the tribals.

For five generations, the tribals have been eking out a livelihood growing millets and weaving bamboo baskets.  

Four months ago, a 22-year-old girl, Maadevi, got into labour and the villagers carried her in a cloth hammock or dhooli. But she delivered the baby before they reached downhill. “When we don’t have power or proper road why should we vote for someone to come to power,” ask the villagers.