Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu): In this digital era when e-mails, pensions and monetary transactions are done seamlessly, here's a story that will roll you to at least a few decades back. For the past six months, postmaster Christuraja has been travelling all the way through the dense forests of Western Ghats — covering 25 kilometres — to deliver an old-age pension for just a woman centenarian living in a remote hamlet of Injikkuzhi. Located in the dense forest of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve above the Karaiyar Dam, Injikkuzhi is not something that is frequented by the outside world. But nothing could stop Christuraja from fulfilling his duty — not the wild forest nor even the maneating tigers. To discover the trials and tribulations that Christuraja treks every month to deliver the money to an equally eagerly looking forward pensioner in the remotest part, ETV Bharat accompanied the postmaster to know what it takes...
Every month Christuraja spends Rs 500 on diesel for a boat ride covering an 8-km round-trip to save on the trek distance and delivers Rs 1,000 towards the OAP issued as a postal money order. Usually, when the water level in the dam dips, Christuraja will have to take a different route and will have to cover double the distance of the regular route.
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The recipient Kuttiyammal (whose approximate age according to Forest dept. is 105) who lives alone beams a smile, when she receives the money.
When Tirunelveli Collector V Vishnu trekked to Injikkuzhi six months ago, Kuttiyammal had requested him to aid her financially by granting OAP, which was immediately sanctioned.
However, as Kuttiyammal cannot go to the nearest ATM to withdraw her money. This is where the services of Christuraja, the lone employee of Papanasam Branch Post Office has turned crucial, wherein his services cater to the Kaani tribal people who had been living in the deep forest for tens of centuries.