It is a walk of 8 km for many to vote in Kerala
Their struggle has been of no concern to the election commission yet.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tribals and local people belonging to Thodumala ward in Amboori have to walk almost eight kilometres and then cross the river to reach the polling booth on Monday. During the 2015 local bodies elections, they could cast their vote at the nearest Karikuzhi Community Hall, which has since been stopped.
More than 1,300 voters which include 750 tribals are forced to boycott the elections this time due to the election commission's apathy. People living on both banks of the Neyyar reservoir use the Kumbichal Kadavu at Thodumala ward in Amboori. If Kanikar tribe inhabits one side, in Mayam settlement colony, local people throng the other side.
Amboori comes under the Parassala constituency where A. T. George (Congress), C. K. Harindran (CPM) and Karamana Jayan (BJP) are the main contenders. Locals allege that even though all the three candidates had approached them seeking votes, due to the steep roads, they did not spend more than one hour in the constituency. J. Saaju, 51, who has been operating the country boat since the last 16 years at the Kumbichal Kadavu, told DC that the tribals would have to walk to and fro eight hours to reach the Karikuzhi Community Hall where the polling booth has been arranged now.
“There are over 750 voters which include the tribal community of Mayam colony. They would have to take the country boat for a few kilometres and then hire a jeep to reach the current polling booth which is not economically viable for them,” said Mr Saaju.
During the civic elections, it was BJP that won the Amboori grama panchayat. P. V. Jose, a local CPM leader who lost the elections, told DC that it was the tribals who form a significant chunk of voters here.