Tamil Nadu: Tribal Woman Carried On Shoulders For 15-Km To Reach Hospital Near Anaicut In Vellore

Athiyur Village Panchayat President M Annamalai said, a temporary PHC at Kurumalai in a government school became non-functional after the school started again after COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chennai: A tribal woman was carried in a doli (palanquin) from her hamlet on a hill near Anaicut to reach a private hospital nearly 15 kms away from her home due to a lack of transportation facilities. 

According to a report on The New Indian Express, Vellakal hamlet in Athiyur Village panchayat lacks basic road connectivity and medical services. 

On Monday, a 31-year-old Soundariya fell ill and due to lack of roads the villagers carried her on a shoulder to Kurumalai village, nearly 15 kms away from her home.

A relative of Soundariya, C Kuppusamy said, our hamlet don't have a road facility so we carry our friends and relatives in a doli if they are ill for providing medical attention. 

Therefore, the government should pave a sand road to the hamlet since even children are largely affected by the lack of roads, he said. 

Talking to NIE, Dr Banumathi, Deputy Director of Health Services said, the hamlet does not have a road facility and it is difficult to access the hamlet. So we have set up a Primary Healthcare Centre at Kurumalai and the medical team is visiting the place for five days a week, he said. 

Athiyur Village Panchayat President M Annamalai said, a temporary PHC at Kurumalai in a government school became non-functional since the school started again after COVID-19 pandemic. 

Therefore, only road connectivity can solve the healthcare-related issue, he added.

Meanwhile, the Collector Kumaravel Pandiyan said, road laying works to Kurumalai are on but constructing link roads to the hamlets is becoming difficult due to several issues including steepness and receiving permit from the forest department.