Tamil Nadu   

Tribal village gets part-time ration shop

THENI: A two-and-half-decade-old struggle of tribal people living at Oomaiyan Thozhu village, popularly known as Vettukadu, an isolated place surrounded by Mullaiperiyar river on the border of the district has come to an end as they get a part-time ration shop, first major benefit of the government that reached the village since time immemorial.

Not even a single aged person has received old age pension till now. Tribals of this village had to trek at least two kilometres on a hill and wade through the river to buy essential commodities. They cannot imagine receiving any PDS goods during rainy season as flood in the river would snap all trekking routes connecting the village and other parts of the district.

The shop would function twice a week. Civil Supplies Department officials would bring essential commodities to this village and distribute at the rate prescribed by the government.

The district administration took all efforts to open the shop for this isolated community.

Inaugurating the shop here on Sunday, Collector P. Muthuveeran said card holders at this village numbered just 70. This number was insufficient to open even a part-time shop. The district administration had obtained special permission from the government to open the shop.

Having known that the Old Age Pension was completely denied to aged ones at this village for a long time, the Collector ordered the Village Administrative Officer, Revenue Inspector, Tahsildar and government doctors to visit the village within a week and list eligible beneficiaries. The team would also identify destitute widows and differently- abled persons to extend benefits of various schemes, he added.

District Revenue Officer R. Brinda Devi participated.

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