A remote hamlet nestled inside the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, which has remained without electrification even after 79 years of Independence, has now been provided with solar lighting systems under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, at a cost of ₹23 lakh.
Malliamman Durgham, under Guthiyalathur panchayat in the Kadambur Hills of Sathyamangalam Panchayat Union, is accessible only after traversing nearly nine kilometres of rugged terrain through forests. The hamlet, home to 159 families, has witnessed large-scale migration over the years owing to the lack of roads, electricity, dependable livelihoods, and healthcare facilities. While many families moved to Kadambur and nearby plains, around 90 families continue to reside in the village, relying on small landholdings where millets are cultivated.
1974 forest fire
Residents recalled that the hamlet first received electricity in 1972, when three street lights were installed. However, a forest fire in 1974 destroyed the wooden electricity poles, plunging the village back into darkness. In 2018, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited installed 123 automatic solar lighting systems in households, enabling residents to operate two electric bulbs. Within a few years, however, the batteries and bulbs became defunct, forcing villagers once again to depend on kerosene lanterns.
