In 2023, Petronet LNG Limited donated an ambulance to the remote tribal hamlet of Edamalakkudy in Kerala as part of its CSR initiatives. Despite this effort, locals still face significant healthcare challenges. Three years later, residents are forced to carry four sick patients across steep hills and hazardous forest rivers to access the nearest hospital, which is located miles away. This situation highlights ongoing difficulties in providing adequate medical services to isolated communities.
Despite its unique administrative standing, basic infrastructure like roads and bridges remains almost non-existent, forcing residents to rely heavily on emergency off-road vehicles. Locals emphasise that if the authorities immediately intervene to resolve the administrative stalemate and make the ambulance roadworthy, it will significantly alleviate the severe medical transport hardships endured by the tribal residents of Edamalakkudy. Formed in November 2010 after being carved out of the Devikulam region, Edamalakkudy is recognised as Kerala’s first and only exclusively tribal Gram Panchayat. Home to the indigenous Muthuvan community spread across 26 remote hamlets (kudis), all 13 of its electoral wards are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST).
