Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Just-born Kallakurichi hopes to march towards prosperity
Parties Hail Decision By State Govt


Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Villupuram: 09.01.2019

That Kalrayan Hills near Kallakurichi got its first power line 63 years after Independence in 2010 sums up the region’s backwardness. Creation of a new district, with Kallakurichi as the headquarters, by bifurcating Villupuram will go a long way in enabling the state government and non-government agencies to focus on a series of issues that plague the region including illiteracy, unemployment, illicit liquor trade, poor health facilities and academic infrastructure.

The decision was hailed by all sections of the people including leaders of various political parties. PMK founderleader S Ramadoss, who has been spearheading campaigns urging the state government to bifurcate or trifurcate bigger districts like Vellore, Villupuram and Kancheepuram into smaller districts for administrative convenience, welcomed the decision.

“Small is beautiful,” Ramadoss said. He said the population in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur or Vellore districts was more than the population in more than 100 countries in the world. “Spread in 7,217sqkm, Villupuram district remained the biggest in the state. The population stood at 34.58 lakh next only to Vellore. Now the government must carve out the northern and eastern parts of the Villupuram district and form a new district with Tindivanam as the headquarters,” he said.

Consumer activist from Kallakurichi A Arul Kennedy said the demand to form a new district with Kallakurichi as the headquarters began almost two decades ago. “The people wanted it. In 1997, we gave a memorandum to then district collector. Over the years the demand gained momentum and the people in Kallakurichi staged a one-day fast in 2007. The fast was a monumental success and the efforts by then ruling party to thwart the struggle turned futile,” said Kennedy.

There are 30 villages in Kalrayan Hills. Vellimalai is the only hamlet accessible by road and there are only four trips by government mini-buses a day.

“Villupuram headquarters is more than 150km from most of the villages in Kalrayan Hills and it is almost impossible to visit the headquarters to seek any governmentrelated schemes and assistance and return the same day. The creation of a new district will benefit people in Kallakurichi and Chinna Salem and adjoining regions,” said K Nehru, representative of an NGO working for the uplift of tribal people.

There are several private schools and a handful of private colleges in the region but a very few government schools and no government college. “With the formation of the district, we will benefit from state government policy of establishing an ITI, a polytechnic, an arts and science college, an engineering college and a medical college in every district,” said Kallakurichi legislator A Prabhu (AIADMK).



A NEW DAWN: There are several private schools and a handful of private colleges in the region but a very few government schools and no government college

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