3-km ‘doli march’ by tiny hamlet voters to demand road connectivity

In a novel protest highlighting the absence of basic road connectivity, residents of Jeelugulova hamlet in Chimalapadu panchayat of Ravikamatam mandal of Anakapalli district turned their journey to the polling station into a democratic way, carrying an 80-year-old villager in a makeshift doli to exercise his franchise along with them. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a novel protest highlighting the absence of basic road connectivity, residents of Jeelugulova hamlet in Chimalapadu panchayat of Ravikamatam mandal of this district turned their journey to the polling station into a democratic statement, carrying an 80-year-old villager in a makeshift doli to exercise his franchise along with them.The residents of the hamlet, inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Kondhu tribespeople, said that despite nearly eight decades of Independence, they continued to struggle for basic infrastructure, particularly a motorable road connecting their settlement to the outside world.A total of 18 residents had recently been enrolled as voters for the first time. Expressing gratitude to the officials who facilitated their enrolment, the villagers said they were determined to exercise their newly acquired voting rights while reminding the authorities of their long-pending demand for a road.The 80-year-old Korra Gasanna, who was unable to walk, was supported by the young voters who fashioned a makeshift doli and carried him to the polling station at Chimalapadu, covering a distance of nearly three kilometres, according to local representatives.The villagers said their participation in the electoral process was also a reminder to elected representatives and officials that they deserved basic amenities. T“Our message is simple. We are ready to travel miles to vote, but the government must provide us with a road,” they echoed.CPI(M) district committee member Korra Balaraju, K. Govinda Rao and ZPTC candidate Singer Palasiya, among others, participated in the initiative.The villagers hoped their unusual demonstration would draw the administration’s attention to their decades-old demand for road connectivity.Eom Published - November 05, 2026 04:14 pm IST