In a poignant demonstration of their plight, the Yerava tribal settlement in Chinnana Haadi, Nittur grama panchayat, marked Independence Day by standing on a broken footbridge, waving the national flag to spotlight their pressing demands.
Home to nearly 15 tribal families, this settlement faces severe accessibility issues due to the absence of a proper approach road. Currently, the tribes use a 20-feet footbridge connecting their settlement to the main road, which was washed away by monsoon rains last year.
Despite repeated efforts by the panchayat to construct a new footbridge—three times in total—the structure is invariably washed away each year during heavy rainfall. According to the tribes, no lasting solutions have been implemented to address this recurring issue.
For over a year, the Yerava people have resorted to using a broken electric pole as a makeshift footbridge, risking their safety to access their settlement. This symbolic Independence Day protest aimed to draw attention to their dire conditions and the urgent need for reliable infrastructure.
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