Tribals elated as DC visits Banjarumale, listens to woes

When Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim arrived at Banjarumale, a tribal hamlet at Neriya gram panchayat in Belthangady taluk, about 90 kms away from Mangalore, a few elders could not believe their eyes.

No deputy commissioner has ever visited this village except former Deputy Commissioner S K Das, who made an attempt to visit the village in 1983, but returned halfway after travelling a few kms by walk due to rise in water-level in the river.

The deputy commissioner who patiently listened to the woes of the tribals and villagers, directed the officials to take steps to provide basic minimum facilities.

One of the main demand of the villagers was to repair the road (9 kms stretch) and repair the 10 KW mini-hydel power project set up in 2002 (its capacity has gone down to 5 KW at present and houses get power supply only between 6 pm and 8 am).

In reply, the deputy commissioner said that a sum of Rs 20 lakh has been released for concretisation of the road and the same will be completed before August 15.

Regarding the repair of mini-hydel power project, the DC asked the villagers to take technical help from the Mescom. He also suggested the villagers to use solar energy.

At the same time, the DC directed the officer concerned to take steps to distribute ration (through PDS) in Banjarumale itself, instead of the villagers going to Neriya to collect ration.

The DC also assured to provide sewing machines to unemployed in the village through Khadi and Village Industries Board. There are 19 persons who know tailoring, but are jobless.

The DC also agreed to fulfil one of their long pending demands of opening an election booth in Banjarumale.

All these years, the villagers had to go to Neriya, which is about 25 kms away.

Ibrahim also directed the officials to set right the anomalies in the ration cards, after verifying the same.

Inauguration after 31 years

Quite interestingly, earlier in the day, the DC inaugurated “DC Katte” which was constructed in 1983 to welcome the then DC S K Das.

However, he could to reach Banjarumale due to high water-level in the river between the main road and Banjarumale.

Belthangady Tahsildar Srinivas, Superintendent of Police Sharanappa and heads of various departments among others accompanied the DC.

Red Cross camp

The district unit of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) had organised a free health camp at Banjarumale on September 28, 2013.

Though the then DC N Prakash was invited for the same, he could not make it.

However, ZP CEO Thulasi Maddineni visited the tribal hamlet on the day and listened to the woes of the tribals.