Despite Official Clearance, Karimutty’s Tribal Settlement Still Waits for Motorable Road
Marayur, Kerala, August 3: Even after multiple official approvals and intervention by the State SC/ST Commission, a motorable road for the Karimutty tribal settlement in Marayur continues to remain a distant dream—literally stuck on paper.
Located just 350 metres from the Munnar-Udumalpet National Highway (NH), the settlement of 20 Hill Pulaya families has survived for over a century with only a narrow dirt path connecting it to the outside world. Despite repeated efforts by community members and government assurances, motorable road connectivity remains unfulfilled.
One Young Woman’s Fight for Access
V. Vanitha, a young woman from the settlement, has led a persistent campaign to secure road access. “I submitted petitions to the Devikulam Subcollector, the District Collector, SC/ST Commission, and 12 other government departments. They all agreed—this is government land, not private property,” she said.
Yet, road construction has not progressed beyond basic walkability. Vanitha recounts how, in 2021, after the local panchayat constructed 54 steps linking the NH to the settlement, a man from Marayur claiming to be the landowner dumped mud on the path, effectively cutting off the settlement once again.
It took intervention from the State SC/ST Commission and the Subcollector for revenue officials to finally remove the soil and make the dirt path walkable. The officials even issued a directive to construct a motorable road, but a year later, that directive remains unimplemented.
“We Still Carry the Sick on Bamboo Stretchers”
“The road may be walkable now, but not motorable. People still carry the elderly and the sick on bamboo stretchers during medical emergencies,” Vanitha said. “Not long ago, a woman had to deliver her baby on the road while on the way to the hospital.”
Bureaucratic Deadlock
A senior Marayur panchayat official stated that the panchayat is ready to construct the road, but only after the Revenue Department officially transfers the land to the local body.
“The panchayat cannot initiate work until the handover is completed,” the official said. However, Marayur village office has not issued a clear statement on the delay or next steps, further deepening the bureaucratic standstill.
SC/ST Commission: “Will Intervene Again if Needed”
A representative of the State SC/ST Commission confirmed that directives for constructing a road have already been issued. “If we receive another complaint, we will intervene again. But the matter has already been clarified—this is government land and the road must be built,” the official asserted.
Collector Promises Action
District Collector V. Vigneshwari responded to the matter saying, “We will look into the issue and take immediate steps to resolve it.” Her assurance has brought a glimmer of hope to the Karimutty tribespeople, but for now, their long wait for dignity and access continues.
Final Thoughts by TheTrendingPeople
The plight of the Karimutty tribal settlement is emblematic of the gap between policy and implementation. When access to basic infrastructure like a road becomes a multi-year struggle—despite official approvals—it raises serious questions about administrative accountability. For the families of Karimutty, the issue is not about paperwork or jurisdiction; it’s about dignity, emergency access, and basic human rights.