DC impact: NHRC steps in to solve tribals' issue

Kottayam: The National Human Rights Commission has intervened to solve the plight of the Muthuvan tribal people  at Edamalakudy  settlement in Munnar on the basis of the  report carried by this newspaper on August 29. Idukki district collector G.R. Gokul will hold a meeting of the health department officials and the Edamalakudy panchayat  authorities on Wednesday to discuss the construction of a primary health centre building at Edamalakudy. 

This follows a notice issued by the NHRC  to the collector and  Kerala chief secretary S.M. Vijayanad  on the issue after a complainant,  K. Govindan Nampoothiri, brought to its attention the DC report titled, ‘Edamalakudy tribals walk over 40 km to find a doctor.’ Collector  Gokul told DC that the National Health Mission had allotted Rs 60 lakh  for the construction of the building and the Edamalakudy panchayat   Rs 80 lakh. 

Currently, the panchayat has only  a sub- centre with the services of two nurses. The NHRC had asked the two officials to submit a report on the medical facilities  within two weeks of the receipt of the notice titled ‘Lack of proper medical facilities,’ which was issued on October 14.  Mr Gokul  received the notice on Tuesday.