Bureaucrats, Netas walk the extra mile to change lives

DHARMAPURI: For the first time since independence, a team of officials recently visited the uphill ‘Sarukkal Paarai (slippery rock)’ village that has paved the way to change the lives of 29 Irula tribal families.

As many as 102 Irula tribes, who live in the most pitiable condition in caves, got a chance to avail all government benefits including free houses, ration supply and most importantly education and health that eluded them since independence.

At last dame luck smiled at them after the Dharmapuri collector Ms. S. Malarvizhi visited the tribal group, few weeks ago. The collector then ordered the officials to hold talks with the Sarukkal Parai residents to get their opinion for their relocation.

“It was our first meet with the government officer because none of them had visited us before that amma (collector) came to our village. Our people, because of past bad experiences, were not ready to believe though she promised us help,” 30-year-old Irula woman C. Maleshwari told reporters.

The married woman continued, “to our surprise the officials revisited our village on Sunday and handed over the government papers for free housing sites after we accepted for the relocation.”

According to official sources, the tribal people are to be relocated at a place in Bodur village, near Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district. Green houses will be constructed on the land at a cost of Rs 2.10 lakh each, to accommodate 29 families who total up to 102 persons.Besides, the beneficiaries were given community certificates for their children to join schools, besides health card and ration cards were issued to the families.

State minister for Higher Education K.P.Anbalagan handed over the benefits to the Irulas at a simple function held at ‘Sarukkal Paarai’ on Sunday.