Tirupur District Ensures Tribal Voting with Remote Polling Booths in Anamalai Tiger Reserve
In a significant effort to achieve 100% voter participation, the district election officer of Tirupur has taken proactive measures by personally visiting tribal settlements within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Ahead of the upcoming polls, officials distributed informational pamphlets to educate and encourage voters in these remote areas.
Comprehensive Polling Infrastructure in Remote Forest Regions
The Madathukulam assembly constituency will see a total of 294 polling booths established, with three specifically located in dense forest areas. These booths are strategically placed to facilitate voting for scheduled castes and tribal communities residing in the remote hill regions of the Udumalpet and Amaravathi forest ranges.
Key Polling Booth Details:
- Booth Number 50: Situated at Mavadappu panchayat union primary school, this booth serves 766 voters—368 men and 398 women—from nearby settlements including Kuzhipatti, Mavadappu, Kattupalli, and Karumutti. Election officials undertake a challenging 60km journey through rugged forest terrain via Thirumoorthy Hills and Upper Aliyar to reach this location from the plains.
- Booth Number 92: Located at Dhalinji, this booth caters to 353 voters, comprising 174 men and 179 women. Access requires an 8km trek through dense forest from Chinnar, crossing key tributaries of the Amaravathi dam such as Pambar, Thenar, and Chinnar.
- Booth Number 91: Set up at Kodanthur, this booth will serve 398 voters—190 men and 208 women—from settlements like Attumalai, Poruppaaru, and Kodanthur. Officials must travel 3km through forest roads from the checkpost on the Udumalpet–Munnar road to reach this site.
Enhanced Security and Accessibility Measures
District Collector and Election Officer Dr. Manish Narnaware has outlined comprehensive arrangements to ensure a smooth electoral process. Additional personnel from both the police and forest departments will be deployed for security, with only male staff assigned duty in these remote locations to address logistical and safety concerns.
Basic facilities have been ensured at all polling booths, including drinking water, toilets, and ramps for persons with disabilities. Although internet connectivity is available, contingency plans involve video recording in case of disruptions to maintain transparency and record-keeping.
Proactive Outreach and Wildlife Monitoring
To further boost voter turnout, Dr. Manish Narnaware, along with other officials, personally visited all tribal settlements on Wednesday, distributing pamphlets related to the election. This hands-on approach aims to engage and inform voters directly in their communities.
Forest authorities have been instructed to monitor wildlife movement in advance to prevent any interference during the polling process. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure the elections are conducted smoothly, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility for every eligible voter in the region.
