The recent visits of District Collector S. Suhas to remote tribal hamlets, especially those on the forest fringes, of the district provides a fresh hope to the tribesmen.
“I have launched the programme to get a first-hand experience of various issues being faced by the marginalised sections of people and solve those issues in a time-ound manner,” Mr. Suhas told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Mr. Suhas has already visited the Paniya and Kattunayakka tribal hamlets at Ponkuzhy, Kakkathodu Paniya tribal hamlet at Kallur, and Kalarikode hamlet at Thariyode. Mr. Suhas assumed charge as the District Collector nearly three weeks ago.
During the visits, held on holidays, the residents of the hamlets told the Collector about the pathetic condition of their houses and lack of medical care, dearth of paths to their hamlets, increasing man-animal conflict, poor drinking water and toilet facilities, and growing alcoholic addiction among tribesmen.
He directed the Tribal Development Department officials to complete minor repair works on their houses and conduct regular health camps.
Road connectivity
“Each hamlet has its own problems and a major issue of the hamlets on the forest fringes is the dearth of road facilities,” Mr. Suhas said. Many a time, development works would not reach the hamlets owing to the dearth of road facilities, Mr. Suhas said, adding that the issue would be solved in a time-bound manner.
The district administration is planning to address all those issues by involving various departments and three-tier local body administrations, he said.
Alcohol addiction was a major issue among the tribes and it could be checked only through sensitising the tribespeople to the ill effects of consumption of liquor, he said. Awareness programmes would be launched soon and more Janamaithri excise squads would be constituted for the purpose, he said.