Tamil Nadu - Salem   

‘Create basic amenities in Palamalai Hills’

SALEM: In response to the requests of tribals and hill dwellers of villages in Palamalai Hills in Mettur taluk that they are being denied of even basic amenities, Salem Collector J. Chandrakumar has urged the officials of all departments to take a coordinated approach and provide all basic amenities in these villages.

“Extend all government’s welfare schemes to eligible beneficiaries in these villages on war-footing,” he said.

Immediately after assuming office, Mr. Chandrakumar asked the officials to prepare a comprehensive proposal to upgrade the facilities in these villages following their repeated claims that they and their villages in the hills were being neglected since Independence.

The team carried out an exhaustive visit and submitted a proposal to him.

Based on which the Collector convened a meeting on Wednesday with officials from various departments attending. They discussed the issues that were haunting the people and the schemes that should be prioritised. The bottlenecks also were discussed threadbare.

While interacting with officials, the Collector said that the officials should strive to create all basic amenities to the villages in Palamalai Hills. He asked the State Highways to seek special permission from the Forest department before laying roads to the villages. District Forest Officer should take necessary steps to get permission for the projects.

Only 22 hamlets of the total 33 could boast of electricity.

He asked the officials of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to coordinate with Forest officials to initiate steps to provide power to the remaining 11 hamlets too.

He asked the health officials to repair and renovate the sub-health centre building in Ramanpatti and also appoint doctor and para medical staff.

He urged the Education department to constantly monitor whether the teachers were attending the primary schools in Semmampati, Periyakulam, Thalakadu and Thimmampathi and middle schools at Nagampathi and Periyakulam. Proposal should be sent to the government to open a new noon meal centre at Semmampatti.

The Project Officer, Mahalir Thittam, was asked to take steps to provide jobs to unemployed women in these villages to enhance their economic independence.

Mr. Chandrakumar also asked the police to identify those who were indulging in illegal activities such as illicit liquor, tree felling and growing ganja plants in the hills.

“They should be mainstreamed into the society after providing alternative employment opportunities,” he said and added that an ‘awareness committee’ under the guidance of Mettur Sub-Collector would be formed to make the hill people understand their rights and create social awareness among them.

He asked the officials to submit the proposals and estimates of the schemes that needed to be executed in the hill villages immediately.

Mettur Sub-Collector Lakshmi Priya, Mahalir Thittam Project Officer A. Selvam, Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer Annadurai, District Elementary Education Officer Mangalam, Divisional Engineer (Rural) Duraisamy, Deputy Director (Health) Dr. Nirmalson and others attended.

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