Employment, healthcare reach remote hamlets

The personnel have been trying to empower youth from those localities by giving them exposure to job opportunities in nearby towns also. In a health camp conducted at Neelampathy near Karamadai, 10 persons aged above 60 were diagnosed with cataract. “They were hesitant to leave their hamlets. They feared that their eyes would be removed. After much assurances from our personnel five of them underwent surgery recently. They have regained their vision and we hope this would encourage others,” said Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore district, RV Ramya Bharathi. She told DTNext that they wanted to ensure that their health camps in tribal pockets to be effective. 

“We wanted the hospitals to give them an assurance that they would provide free surgery and special treatment. The beneficiaries are happy and so are we (police) as we have won their confidence,” she said. The case of 40-year-old M Savithri from Anaikatti has been one such example. The brick kiln worker had been amputated earlier in an accident. Due to the measures taken by the police officers, a Coimbatore-based jeweller came forward to sponsor an artificial leg for her. 

The SP handed over the same to Savithri last week and she has been getting trained to use her artificial limb now. The Naxal Special Division (NSD) has been ensuring that the youth in the hamlets have enough opportunities. The police have been taking them on industrial visits, creating awareness programmes about competitive exams and arranging jobs in private sectors. A police officer in the NSD said, “We are collecting details of educated youth who are interested in going out of their hamlets for better jobs. 

With the help of a driving school we have obtained 82 learners license for the youths, including a woman. So far, 28 persons have got their driving licenses.” Such all-out efforts by the police have made them easily accessible among the tribal people.