More than 70 families residing at Hallan Nagar in Ward 13 of Ketti Town Panchayat have to walk through almost 2 km of perilous forest paths to reach the nearest accessible road due to private land owners denying them access to a right of way, allege local residents and activists.
The more than 70 residents of Hallan Nagar, mostly Dalit labourers earning only daily wages, are forced to carry their ailing and deceased family members using crudely-fashioned stretchers.
According to G. Sathish from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the party that has taken up the fight to gain road access for the community, the lack of roads means that the ailing and elderly do not have immediate access to healthcare. “In the night, the area has many wild animals, including gaur, leopards, porcupines and wild boar, all of which are a threat to the safety of residents who have to take a bridle path through a forest area to reach the closest motorable road that can be reached by ambulances,” said local residents.
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