CHENNAI: A train journey, ride on the Metro, white tigers at Vandalur, the waves at Marina and watching a film in a theatre.
These were the experiences for the 20 tribal children from a forest hamlet in Kodaikanal, whose three-day visit to Chennai ended on Sunday (August 23).
The children, aged between 10 and 17, are from Kaduguthadi Pudur in Thandikudi panchayat of Kodaikanal taluk, Dindigul district. This was the first time many of them were travelling outside their village.
For 14-year-old Vishwa, a Class 9 student, the train journey and the Vandalur zoo visit were the highlights. "We saw many animals, including white tigers. I liked Marina Beach and playing in the waves," he said.
The visit was much more than sightseeing. During a meeting with the Tribal Welfare director Annadurai at the Secretariat on Friday, the children spoke about their problems, including drinking water, housing, roads and bus services, back home.
Vishwa said drinking water was a major issue in Kaduguthadi. Though there are borewells, they hardly get water. He also flagged the poor condition of roads and a community hall that was in shambles.
Iniya raised the mismatch between bus timings and school hours for children travelling between Pannatti and Thandikudi, and said the village has sought a bus after 4 pm to ease their commute.
Housing was another concern. “In our village, four or five families sometimes live crammed in a single house," Iniya said, adding that her community has asked for land to build proper houses.
Annadurai then directed officials to look into the requirements raised, including housing, drinking water and drainage.
The children also visited the Guindy Snake Park, Birla Planetarium and Urur Kuppam, where they interacted with ecologist Palayam on coastal life, ecology, science and technology.
Yogesh Karthick of Meipporul Foundation, which coordinated the visit, said the organisation had been working with the children for about a year.
Kaduguthadi has around 85-100 families and about 40 children, most of whom have limited exposure to educational and professional opportunities beyond the village, a pattern that often results in them dropping out after Class 12.
This was the first time we brought them out of their village," he said, adding that the trip was also meant to help them shed any apprehension about cities.