The row between the residents of two villages in Yercaud over the local temple issue was solved amicably. The residents of Aanaikkadu and Periyerikkadu villages in Vellakkadai panchayay on the Yercaud hills were at loggerheads over the temple issue. The local meetings of the people of respective villages held on Tuesday decided that they should not speak and should not have any contact with each other.
Following this, the parents of Periyerikkadu village, whose 44 wards were studying in a panchayat union primary in Aanaikadu village took away their students home on Tuesday. The headmaster and teachers of the school tried to pacify the parents, but they did not listen to them.
The headmaster brought the issue to the notice of the Education Department officials, following which A. Gnana Gowri, Chief Educational Officer, along with Palanisamy, assistant project director, Sarva Siksha Abiyan, Srinivasan, Assistant Elementary Education Officer, Yercaud, rushed to Periyerikkadu village, and held discussion with the local people. S. Annadurai, Chairman, Yercaud panchayat union, was also present during the discussion.
During the talks held for more than three hours, the people of Periyerikkadu said that the young boys and girls have to walk for about a km to reach Aanaikkadu village for attending the school. This caused much hardship to them. They demanded setting up of a government primary school in the village. The officials promised to take up the matter with the district administration and Education Department and take steps for setting up a government school in the village during the next academic year.
Following this assurance, the Periyerikkadu villagers allowed their wards to attend the school in Aanaikkadu village on Wednesday after noon.
