Villagers of Addagudde sore over lack of facilities

Even as development is taking place at a fast pace in towns and cities, a small tribal hamlet situated on the periphery of a forest, surrounded by hills and valleys, in Ooru Bage gram panchayat cries for attention.

Addagudde village, situated at a distance of 25 kilo metres from the Mudigere taluk headquarter, lacks basic facilities. Twelve families residing in this tribal hamlet eke out living by  collecting minor forest produce.  The residents belonging to Malekudiya community had migrated to Addagudde from Charmadi forest decades ago. They own a small portion of revenue land and are dependent on agriculture and collection of forest produce for their livelihood. Despite 11 candidates  elected from the Mudigere constituency, after it was declared as reserved constituency in 1962, Addagudde failed to draw attention of the elected representatives and continue to remain in the absence of basic facilities like road, drinking water and bridge etc.Laying three kilo metre road to Addagudde from Moolarahalli will provide  connectivity to both the villages. The narrow foot road that connects two villages, poses challenge to the villagers, as they have to cross two streams that lacks bridge facility. Villagers have laid a wooden foot bridge and walk on these bridges by putting their lives in danger. There are several instances of villagers slipping and falling off the bridge.

Adda gdde also lacks drinking water facility. Though natural waterfalls flow by the side of the village, villagers have no sources of drinking water. The panchayat had spent lakhs of rupees six years ago, for providing water connections but the facility is defunct now.
This tiny village has about 30 students, who reside in their relatives house or hostels, to pursue education, as the village lacks a school. “The government has made arrangement for the PDS at Satthiganahalli. However, we have to spend Rs 50 to reach the ration shop to collect food grains and kerosene. We end up in shelling more for the mode of  transportation to reach the ration shop,” said a villager. Only graduate in the village, Prasanna said that a road, bridge, transport, anganawadi and primary school has to be constructed in the village. In addition, the government should make arrangements to supply drinking water to the villagers, shift the ration shop to Moolarahalli and also make Addagudde hut-free village. Why not the government give us facilities under integrated tribal development project, and give us the allow  us to live with dignity like others? he asked.