District Collector Anand Mohan on Saturday visited the Kaani tribal hamlets in the Western Ghats beyond Papanasam to understand the living conditions and the grievances of the tribal community living deep inside the jungles of Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR).Interacting with the members of the tribal community, the Collector received petitions from them and asked them if they were getting all welfare schemes without delay. When a few members aired their grievances like delay in getting scholarship for their children, monthly assistance meant for women etc., Mr. Anand Mohan directed the officials concerned to look into these appeals immediately and submit within a week the report detailing action taken on these grievances.He also inspected the 19 houses, each costing ₹5.11 lakh, being built for the Kaani Tribes.Since the 125-metre-long bridge for crossing River Thamirabarani is under construction at a cost of ₹99 lakh at Chinna Mayilar Kaani Tribal hamlet, the Collector reviewed the progress of the work.During his visit to the residential high school at Upper Dam, the Collector distributed uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, school bags, raincoats, mats, bedsheets, socks, woollen sweaters etc. to the students, all children of the Kaani Tribes. Since the new block with five classrooms, a laboratory, kitchen and the girls’ hostel is ready for inauguration, the Collector asked the officials to prepare a note for the formal inauguration of the building in near future.When he visited the Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple and its surroundings, which attracts visitors everyday and thousands of devotees during the ‘Adi Amavasai’ festival, Mr. Anand Mohan asked the KMTR officials to strictly impose ban on bringing use-and-throw plastic products, liquor, inflammable materials, etc., to the shrine.Cheranmahadevi Sub-Collector Ayush Gupta, Deputy Director of KMTR’s Ambasamudram Division Srikant and other senior officials accompanied the Collector. Published - June 06, 2026 07:47 pm IST