Pachamalai hill range extends into Trichy and Salem districts of Tamilnadu. The approach to the hills is from Uppiliapuram. The base station is Shobanapuram 4 Kms from uppiliapuram. The 12 km drive from foot hill to Top senkattupatti is a wonderful location for people interested in medicinal plants. As one reaches the first habitation of Thenpuranadu, hamlets on the right side belong to Trichy district, while the left side belong to Salem district. CTMR team comprising of Vd.S.Usman Ali, Dr.T.Thirunarayanan. Dr.S.Rajkumar along with Dr.T.R Siddique Ali interacted with the Village administrative officer, Tribal headmen individually and tribal men collectively at Top sengattupatty, Periyanagoor, Mayalampaddi, Nalla mathur. To the surprise of the team inspite of the rich availability of medicinal plant flora, the tribals have completely forgotton the traditional medical knowledge excepting two village elders who treat patients for poisonous bites. One of the Govt. Primary Health Centre also has a Siddha physician and only a very few patients take traditional medicine. Apart from cattle rearing and Tapioca monoculture no other economic activity is being carried out. The monoculture of tapioca has led to destruction of the native flora. Surprisingly collection of Minor Forest produce like Chebulic myrobalan is also not being taken up by the tribal as they consider that less remunerative due to the high transportation cost.
Naripadi village 7 Km from kodamalai on the other side of Pachamalai slope in the Gangavalli Taluk of salem was no better as most of the tribal have taken up other vocation. Youngsters have joined central Govt departments like railways and postal department. An eighty year old Poojari of the temple is the only person still preserving traditional knowledge and also growing medicinal plants for dispensing to his patients
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