THENI: When the sun sets, the life of these Paliyar tribes came to a standstill. However, this is no longer the case in Kuravan Kuli, Karumparai and Petchaiamman Solai hamlets in Agamalai forest area in Periyakulam taluk. Now their nights are a little less dark thanks to the light emitted from solar lamps donated by the NGO Palam as part of Henkel, Germany's CSR program.
More than 50 Paliyar tribal families have been living without electricity in the Agamalai forest for several years. Considering their plight, Palam, a Chennai-based NGO, made efforts to provide them with solar lamps.
Speaking to TNIE, KM Leelavathi Thanaraj, member, SC/ST State Welfare Commission, said, “Paliyar tribals face many challenges when it comes to cooking, children's studies in the evenings and more. I reached out to Palam, which donated paid solar lamps to 37 families of Rs 4.5 lakh in the first phase.”
She further said, “Other Paliyar villages like Chellakulam, Kadaparaikuli and Maruthanuthu also lack electricity connections. In the next phase, the NGO was asked to provide them with solar lamps.”
One of the beneficiaries and leader of the Paliyar community, Pandi, said, “After several years of struggle, the community can experience light at night. Because we have been equipped with a solar panel that powers two small lamps and one large lamp, we are able to chat at night, cook, help children learn, and women use toilets without fear of poisonous insects .
Speaking to TNIE, Henkel GTC member Ramkumar Shanmugam said: “Our company primarily focuses on environmental protection, education, social justice and community development. Currently, we are focusing on solar lighting projects in tribal villages.”