Vettivittakadu tribal hamlet’s long wait for basic amenities draws Keralam government’s intervention

Minister for Development of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes K.A. Thulasi The Department of Development of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes has stepped in to address the longstanding basic infrastructure and health-care access issues faced by 38 residents, including 11 Muthuvan families, at the Vettivittakadu tribal hamlet in Athirappilly grama panchayat in Thrissur.Located in a remote forested area, Vettivittakadu remains difficult to access. From Chalakudy, one has to travel around 88 km to reach Malakkappara, followed by another 18 km through Tamil Nadu and nearly four km on foot to reach the hamlet.In the absence of a motorable road, patients requiring urgent medical attention often have to be carried on makeshift stretchers until a point accessible by vehicles.Recent incidentThe department recently intervened after Kumar, 33, son of Chinnapparaj of the hamlet, developed a health problem on Saturday (September 19, 2026) evening. The Malakkappara outpatient clinic arranged immediate medical assistance, following which an ambulance was used on Sunday morning to bring Mr. Kumar down from the hamlet. He was subsequently taken to the Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, for specialised treatment. His condition has since improved.Several attempts had earlier been made to construct a road to the hamlet, but the projects could not be taken forward because of the high estimated cost. The department is now examining the feasibility of cutting and improving a footpath to make the route accessible up to the point where vehicles can reach.As part of efforts to improve basic amenities, a proposal to construct toilets at the hamlet under the corpus fund was presented before the working group last month. The Athirappilly grama panchayat has informed the department that the available funds are inadequate, as the estimated cost of constructing each toilet is around ₹5 lakh.The district-level committee has now decided to examine two or three detailed proposals and proceed with the project based on feasibility and available funds.K.A. Thulasi, Minister for Development of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, said further steps were being taken in coordination with the concerned departments and the local body to ensure basic infrastructure and emergency health-care facilities for the residents of Vettivittakadu. Published - September 22, 2026 04:01 pm IST