Imperative realignment

A grassroots journey to Tamil Nadu's remote villages outlines the struggles of the marginalized communities—exposing, in the process, the systemic neglect, misaligned agendas, and the need for guided local governance

- G PALANITHURAI

Recently, I have started to visit remote villages located roughly thirty to forty kilometers away from the main roads, with the aim of listening to the voices of the voiceless and engaging with them on critical issues of development. Tamil Nadu is relatively more socially and economically developed compared to northern states. A section of the population within Tamil Nadu believes that the state government serves as a role model for other states in terms of governance and achieving socioeconomic development.

However, some people hold this belief because they travel in big cars only on highways and never venture into interior villages. They neither have the time nor the inclination to visit these areas. Even if they possess social concern, their cars cannot navigate the narrow lanes and pathways in rural areas, where the roads are riddled with undulations and potholes. A few are aware that the villages are in poor condition, which is why people from rural areas migrate to urban centers in search of gainful employment. Push and pull factors drive this migration. To mitigate it, the Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Scheme were introduced in India.

When I heard from many village panchayat presidents at public fora, many of them, especially those representing the poor and marginalized, shared a volley of problems faced by their people. These issues often remain unaddressed due to a lack of power and financial resources in the panchayats. I always ask them about the conditions of the people, particularly those in the last rung of society. They often paint a grim picture of rural realities, despite the significant amounts of money spent through various schemes and programs.

This prompted me to personally visit the interior villages of different districts—both industrial and non-industrial—to capture the voices of the people. My tour was organized and supported by a social movement called "Nallore Vattam" (Good Circle).