Chennai: Taking time off from his hectic schedule, Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday visited the Narikuravar (nomadic tribe) settlement at suburban Avadi, heard their grievances and also had idly and vada in one of their houses.
During his visit, he inspected whether basic amenities like drinking water, roads, toilets and other facilities are provided and their functioning.
Stalin’s visit comes in the backdrop of three young girl students from the community in a video call last month with the Chief Minister airing their concerns to him. The Chief Minister had promised he would visit them
soon and also said he would be happy to take food with them.
Keeping up his promise, Stalin walked into the settlement at Thirumullaivoyil coming under Avadi Corporation, visited the house of one of the Narikuvar family and ate Idly and Vada along with chutney and curry. He also fed it to
young girl children in the family.
He also interacted with the Narikuravar students S Darshini, R Priya and K Divya and learnt about their education needs and promised to provide all assistance for their education.
After spending a few minutes in their house during which he heard their needs and grievances, the Chief Minister participated in an event in which he handed over senior citizen’s pension, CM’ health insurance card, family cards and loan assistance to roadside traders.
In all, he distributed welfare assistance to 223 people from Narikuravar community in two separate events.
He also inaugurated a newly constructed high tension electric lights and drinking water facilities.
Later, in his speech, he said he had taken up with the Narikuravar community’s long pending demand of including them in ST list from the present MBC list with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said he had urged the Prime Minister to take urgent steps to include ‘Narikoravar/Kurivikkarar’ communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tamilnadu as envisaged under Article 342(1) and 342(2) of the
Constitution.
While returning to the city, he took everyone by surprise and visited the Ambattur Police station and made an inspection. He also enquired about the cases registered and the action taken against the complaints from the
public.