Tribal people living on Sathy hills say that their desire for a direct bus service to Udhagamandalam from Talavadi has not been addressed for long.
It is not just that Hasanur, Thalamalai, and Bhavani Sagar that are in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve come under Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, there are strong cultural links also among the Irular, Kurumba, and Badaga communities living in The Nilgiris and contiguous Sathy hills.
At times of festivals, hordes of people from The Nilgiris visit the villages on Sathy hills.
People living in the Thalavadi-Hasanur areas are required to board buses to Sathy, and from there to Mettupalayam, and then to Udhagamandalam, or Kotagiri. Though a few buses are operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation ply between Udhagamandalam, and Sathyamangalam, the services are not adequate, representatives of tribal communities say.
For several years now, Badagas living in a cluster of villages including Kottada, Hosatti, Mavallam, and Odamanthanai near Hasanur have been seeking a direct bus service to Kotagiri.
Socio-economic development
Better movement of people between Hasanur and destinations in The Nilgiris would reflect in socio-economic development of the tribal communities, according to Nanjan, Councillor of Talavadi Panchayat Union.
For instance, the Kotagiri-based Keystone Foundation has initiated projects for value-addition for farm produces in very many hamlets on the Sathy hills. Likewise, Udhagamandalam-based Badaga Mahajana Sanga has been in the forefront of improving socio-economic conditions of people in Badaga settlements.
Social organisations
Social organisations working for welfare of tribal communities also have a presence in Sathy hills. Incidentally, Bhavani Sagar, Hasanur, and Talavadi form a part of The Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency.
There are strong cultural links among the Irular, Kurumba, and Badaga communities living in The Nilgiris and contiguous Sathy hills
At times of festivals, hordes of people from
The Nilgiris visit the villages on Sathy hills
