THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Girls, eat what you want,” the elder brother told his sisters, pointing at the display case at a thattukada. They were out together after a long time, thanks to the Lok Sabha elections.
Lakshmanan Kani, 90, and his sisters Parukutti, 83, and Subhadramma, 77, had come to the Government Tribal High School in Idinjar to vote. Though they hail from Kallana tribal settlement in Idinjar forest, some 40km away from Thiruvananthapuram, the siblings rarely travel together. Even on Friday, they met by accident.
“Party workers had arranged vehicles to take us to the polling booth. We happened to be in the same jeep,” said Parukutti.
Subhadramma said her children, who usually take her to the booth, were busy and hence, she opted for the party’s vehicle.
The Idinjar forest has over half a dozen settlements all connected by concrete roads. However, the settlements are turning uninhabitable due to increasing wildlife attacks and drinking water shortage, said Suma, a voter in her thirties who lives in Kidarakkuzhi settlement. “Still, people here vote in every election,” she said.
About 4km from Kidarakkuzhi is Muttippara settlement on a hilltop. Having cast their votes as soon as polling began, couple Pradeep and Sobhana are feeding their cattle at home, situated in the valley facing Varayadumotta, known for the presence of endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
Pradeep, 49, said they previously farmed on leased land and turned to cattle rearing just six months ago, after wild animal attacks made farming unsustainable.
Drinking water shortage is another problem. “We depend on a neighbour’s well, but the water level is depleting,” said Sobhana, adding, “Voting is my right and every time, I’m excited to do it. We wish people’s representatives showed the same enthusiasm to solve our problems.”