Cheyyur: Voters in despair over lack of job opportunities, govt. assistance

Cheyyur's youth face limited local opportunities, seeking jobs in Chennai while grappling with governance and livelihood challenges.

A little over 100 kilometres south of Chennai lies the quaint town of Cheyyur, close enough to the city’s high-growth IT Corridor to enable young professionals travel for work daily, yet far enough to retain its rustic way of life.

A Taluk headquarters, this town gained electoral prominence after the Cheyyur constituency was formed during the 2008 delimitation exercise. This reserved constituency is predominantly a agrarian belt that also enjoys a considerably long coastline. The political narrative here is shaped by livelihood issues centred around agriculture, fishing, and labour issues.

Cheyyur has, on the last two occasions, voted in favour of the Secular Progressive Alliance headed by the DMK. In 2011, the AIADMK candidate had won by a margin of over 26,000 votes.

“Cheyyur constituency lacks in livelihood opportunities for the local people,” said V. Mohan, a retired Headmaster of Adi Dravidar Welfare High School. “There are no industries nearby that may employ people here.”

In Cheyyur town and its surrounding villages, public transport has been a blind spot. People depend largely on share autorickshaws, two-wheelers, and other forms of private transport. The bright spot, however, is the town of Melmaruvathur, known as the abode of goddess Adi Parashakthi, which is well connected by train and bus. This town also serves as the boarding point for young professionals who travel to Chennai or adjoining areas for work. “It would serve people well if bus services in the area is improved,” Mr. Mohan said.

Between Cheyyur town and the coast lie a large expanse of barren wetland running along the coastline that once were salt pans. Both the State and the Central government owned different clusters of these salt pans.