Kolli hills, Pachamalai hills, Yearcaud hills, Kalrayan hills, Jagir hills, Bothai hills, Sitheri hills, Jawathi hills are some of the hills of the Eastern Ghats spread in Salem, Dharmapuri, Villupuram, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Namakal districts of Tamilnadu. The tribals of these area call themselves as “Goundas”.  But the Government has recognized them as “Malayalis” which means inhabitants of the hills. They speak Tamil and are backward in all aspects – socially, economically and educationally.  The total population of these areas is about 6 lakhs.  They live in small huts mad of grass in the various hamlets of the hills.  As they don't have any transport facilities they suffer a lot. Due to lack of education and health care they have been suffering very much and die of Malaria, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Cholera etc.  These people have been slowely brought to light, mainly by the services of the Christian Organizations and now to some extend by the services of the Government also.