A grassroots democracy lesson: Tribes in Tennessee trek 8 kilometers to exercise their franchise

Living in the Vagapanai tribal settlement at Kil Kotagiri block, about seventy Irula people set out early on Friday morning on a strenuous eight-kilometer walk through the forest to Kotada to cast their votes, fostering hopes that the elected representative would at least this time address the long-pending demands, like a road to their settlement and a PDS shop.

The residents informed TNIE that voting papers were not sent by poll workers to the settlement; instead, the only individuals to campaign there were AIADMK cadre, who texted texts informing them of the whereabouts of their polling places. Following the vote, D Jayalalitha, 54, informed TNIE that around 100 families had resided in the hamlet ten years before, but 70 of them had left since there was no road.

Our community is eight kilometers from Kotada Estate, nestled within a forest. We have to go there in the middle of the wild animal activity even if we require ration supplies. She bemoaned that “even senior citizens walk up and down the forest path to Kotada to collect their old age pension.”

The majority of locals are employed on tea farms. “We have consistently cast votes in the hopes that one day our settlement will receive a road,” she said.

A citizen named R Durai made the following statement on children’s education: “Approximately ten children were unable to attend school because of the lack of roads, as the closest one was twelve kilometers away.” To go to the school, they must first walk eight miles and then take a bus to Kengarai. Some families moved their children from the settlement to the Kotada estate area so they could attend school.

The tribe said that despite their repeated appeals for a road to be built, the district government had not acted.

“We can’t even reach the primary health center at Kengarai easily in case of a medical emergency,” said S Meena, a first-time voter in Vagapanai, to TNIE. From here, it will take us at least two hours of walking. In addition, we lack power and restrooms.

Meena said, “They think voting is important despite all of this.” “I voted for the first time, hoping that a road facility would come to our hamlet. Our critical requests should be met by the government, she asked.

“I have been submitting petitions to the district collector and chief minister’s cell requesting amenities but am yet to receive a reply,” said J Murugan, president of the Kengarai village panchayat, in response to a question about the absence of facilities here.