The lack of roads in a remote hilly area near Udumalaipet has resulted in a distressing situation where a tribal family had to transport a pregnant woman in an improvised cloth cradle through the forest for three kilometers to reach the nearest village. From there, they traveled to a health center in the plains on 8 April 2024.
Reports indicate that the husband and relatives of the eight-month-pregnant woman constructed a cradle attached to bamboo poles to carry her when she began experiencing pain. They traversed through the forest for several hours until they reached the foothills, where they arranged for transportation.
A pregnant woman taken in a cloth cradle from Tribal settlement in Udumalaipet to a hospital through mountain slopes .@Xpresstn
This is happening in TN's Dravida model, this would have been national news if it had happened in UP and a government which has failed to provide the… pic.twitter.com/RnmHYQAECY— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) April 9, 2024
Nagammal, a 22-year-old resident of Kuzhi Patti hamlet, experienced labor pains persisting for two days. On 8 April 2024, her family decided to transport her to either the Udumalaipet GH or PHC in Erisanampatti for medical assistance. However, the nearest village with available transportation was Kurumalai, situated 3.5 kilometers away, yet hindered by muddy roads. To overcome this obstacle, the family devised a plan to reach Thirumoorthy Hill settlement, approximately 15 kilometers away from the PHC in Erisanampatti, where they could arrange transportation. They opted for a forest route, traversing mountain slopes, covering about seven kilometers through Ponnan Amman Solai. In a resourceful effort, they crafted a makeshift cradle using four sarees and large sticks, which relatives carried. Despite the challenging terrain, the men persevered, navigating the rough landscape for over three hours. Eventually, they arrived at the Udumalaipet Government Hospital around 6 pm.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, N Manikandan, the Treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Hill Tribes Association, highlighted the challenges faced by the tribal communities in Udumalaipet taluk. He noted that over 3,000 individuals reside in 15 tribal settlements in the area, yet access to medical facilities is hindered by the lack of proper roads. Specifically, he pointed out the plight of the 170 families in Kuzhi Patti, all belonging to the Malai Pulaiya community.
Murugan, a member of the tribal community, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the absence of road connectivity among the settlements in Udumalaipet. He explained that much of the terrain falls within the Anamalai tiger reserve, making road construction challenging. Furthermore, existing pathways are riddled with rocks and potholes, rendering them impassable for both ambulances and motorcycles.
An official from the Tiruppur district administration revealed that a proposal has been sanctioned by Dhali Town Panchayat to construct a road linking Kurumalai and Thirumoorthy Malai settlements, at a cost of ₹49 lakh. Despite ongoing efforts to level rocks and improve accessibility, many tribes still resort to using mountain routes to reach the primary healthcare center in Erichanampatti. The administration assured that they are closely monitoring the situation.
In this context, the president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, K Annamalai, has openly criticized and mocked the DMK government led by MK Stalin. He released a statement via his official X handle, stating, “It is shocking to see the video of a pregnant woman being carried to the hospital by tying a dolly with cloth in a hilly village in Udumalaipet area of Tirupur district due to a lack of road facilities. In the year 2000, through the then Prime Minister of India Vajpayee’s Rural Roads Scheme, funds worth thousands of crores were allocated to Tamil Nadu, but the fact that the people in the hilly villages including Tirupur and Vellore still did not have access to road facilities is evidence of the plight of the regimes in Tamil Nadu over the years.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin, who is only keen on changing the name of the central government projects, stops those projects for a day’s publicity, with a mere notification, and does not execute them. Chief Minister Mr. Stalin should make it clear what kind of model it is to not provide even the basic facilities required for the people?”
திருப்பூர் மாவட்டம் உடுமலைப்பேட்டை பகுதியில் உள்ள மலைவாழ் கிராமம் ஒன்றில், சாலை வசதி இல்லாததால், கர்ப்பிணிப் பெண் ஒருவரை, துணியால் டோலி கட்டி, மருத்துவமனைக்குத் தூக்கிச் செல்லும் காணொளி ஒன்றை, சமூக வலைத்தளத்தில் காண நேர்ந்தது பெரும் அதிர்ச்சியை அளிக்கிறது.
கடந்த 2000 ஆம் ஆண்டு,… pic.twitter.com/bkbKAkacyQ
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) April 9, 2024
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