Land resettlement issues, lack of job opportunities for locals and concerns over the available infrastructure to cater to the ever-growing tourism industry are among the pressing issues the next Nilgiris MP will have to grapple with.
Encompassing six Assembly segments across four districts – three in the Nilgiris (Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Gudalur) and one each in Erode (Bhavani Sagar), Coimbatore (Mettupalayam) and Tirupur (Avinashi), the reserved constituency has a population as diverse as the issues it faces. Repatriates from Sri Lanka of recent Indian origin live and work alongside resident Badagas – the majority population, while the district is also home to a number of recognised tribal groups, including Todas, Kotas, Irulas, Kurumbas, Kattunayakans and Paniyas.
The Nilgiris district’s economy, which has long been dependent on tea, tourism and agriculture, is at a crossroads, with tea estates no longer profitable and residents, especially in the headquarters in Udhagamandalam, becoming increasingly dependent on the tourism and hospitality sector for jobs.
The crisis in the tea industry and the subsequent growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a rapidly changing ecological landscape, with picturesque vistas of tea estates gradually diminishing as a result of the construction of cottages and properties to service visitors to the “blue mountains”.
Urban infrastructure has been unable to keep pace with the tourist traffic, requiring immediate attention and perhaps even a rethink of the district’s tourism model.
Venugopal Dharmalingam, honorary director, Nilgiri Documentation Center, said the “unique hills are at a crucial juncture” and, over the last three decades, the district has been “systematically destroyed” by global and national developments.
“The local economy is in a shambles. Tea and agriculture are stagnant. The youth are unemployed or underemployed. The indigenous culture is dying fast, while the towns are suffocating and choking,” he said. Special status must be conferred on the Nilgiris to “bring the necessary planning, funding and administration to build a world-class hill station and address local issues.”
The locals have long demanded the setting up of a multi-speciality hospital, with many calling for the conversion of the now-defunct Hindustan Photo Films Limited factory into a hospital and medical college. In case of medical emergencies, residents are now having to rely on healthcare facilities in Coimbatore or Kerala.
Another long-standing issue is the non-settlement of claims made by people living on lands classified under Section 17 of the Gudalur Janmam Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act of 1969. This has led to a lack of development in these areas, populated by tens of thousands of daily-wage workers, most of whom earn a living working in tea and coffee estates in Gudalur and Pandalur.
Voting patterns
Former Telecom Minister and DMK candidate A. Raja, who represented the Nilgiris during 2009-14, has stated in his campaign rallies that settling the long-pending claims to land titles would be among the party’s priorities.
Voting patterns have been mixed over the last 30 years, prior to which the Congress preformed strongly here. In 2014, Mr. Raja was defeated by the AIADMK’s C. Gopalakrishnan, who capitalised on the allegations against Mr. Raja in the 2G spectrum case.
Past winners include the Congress’ R. Prabhu in 2004, who was elected MP from Nilgiris (when it was a general constituency) five times since 1980, and the BJP’s Master Mathan in 1998 and 1999. TMC leader S.R. Balasubramaniyan (now AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP) was elected from here in 1996.
Mr. Raja is currently the most recognisable candidate. He faces competition from the AIADMK’s M. Thiyagarajan. Mr. Raja, who retains goodwill among residents for his work to get the district back on its feet following the floods in 2009, will be keen to cash in on the support the DMK usually gets from Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Gudalur, while also focussing on issues facing voters in Bhavani Sagar, Mettupalayam and Avinashi.
MNM candidate N. Rajendran and the AMMK’s M. Ramaswami are also in the fray, and have made some attention-grabbing poll promises, including enacting land reform measures and strengthening tourism infrastructure.