Anaicut: Predominantly tribal constituency long plagued by neglect of basic infrastructure

Tribals are at the core of Anaicut Assembly constitutency that encompasses hillocks like Peenjamanthai, Jarthankollai, Kurumalai and Palampattu in Jawadhu Hills in Vellore district. Basic civic needs like bitumen roads, water supply, electricity connection and a government hospital still remain a distant dream for residents in the hills.

Formed in 1977, Anaicut Assembly seat covers more than 70 farming and tribal villages, mostly in the hills that come under Vellore and Anaicut panchayat unions. Residents of many tribal hamlets in these hills have to walk on muddy pathways to reach towns and villages in the plains. “A proper bitumen road is a pre-requisite to envisage other basic amenities like water supply, power connection and fair price shop. Raw materials to build these civic amenities could be transported only when there is a proper road,” said M. Annamalai, president, Athiyur village panchayat.