When ‘self-lockdown’ helps tribals of Idukki to beat COVID-19

By PTI
IDUKKI: Confining himself to his forest hamlet isolating from the surface world appears to be a non-issue for Rajesh, a tribal youth dwelling in Oonjampara, a settlement positioned over 5 kms away from Marayur right here.

If anybody asks if he isn’t missinghis frequent journeys to the close by city today, he has a transparent however certain reply: “This isolation is for our well-being only…to keep this disease away. Isn’t it?” This knowledge has helped a bit of forest dwellers on this hill district tokeep COVID-19 at bay of their hamlets, at a time when the complete nation is reeling underneath its second wave.

Long earlier than the federal government clamped lockdown formally, they had been confined to their fringe hamlets isolating themselves to make sure that nobody amongst them bought contaminated.

They come out of the shelter of forests solely hardly ever to gather important articles, child meals and medicines.

They had been additionally not hesitant to request the outsiders together with police and well being staff to make sure that they don’t seem to be carriers of the virus whereas visiting them.

Edamalakkudy, the primary tribal panchayat of the state positioned about 30 kms away from the vacationer city Munnar right here, is the one panchayat within the southern state now the place there’s zero constructive case, because of the self isolation.

A habitation of Muthuvan group, round 3,000 individuals, belonging to over 750 households live in additional than 25 settlements on this village.

Located contained in the Munnar forest division, the distant hamlet, having no correct street or different connectivity, has now develop into a mannequin for the complete world outdoors to emulate of their struggle in opposition to the pandemic.

Besides Edamalakkudy, the inhabitants of Koodalkattukudy, a tribal ward in Marayur panchayat, have additionally succeeded in maintaining their settlements COVID free up to now by way of self-isolation.

Located about 5 kms away from Marayur, there are over 1,300 tribals, belonging to 500 households of Muthuvan and Hill Pulaya group, dwelling in 9 settlements on this panchayat ward.

If’oorukoottam’, the tribal council, of Edamalakkudyhad determined to undertake self-isolation when the primary wave of COVID-19 hit the nation, the dwellers of Koodalkattukudy remoted themselves from the surface world from the start of this April.

Health and Forest division officers are continuously monitoring the conditions and conducting periodic well being checks in these settlements.

Twenty-five-year-old Rajesh, belonging to Oonjampara settlement ofKoodalkattukudy, stated everybody, reducing throughout all age teams, are diligently obeying the directives of the tribal council to observe self-isolation.

He stated he concentrated extra on farming, the foremost occupation of dwellers of his settlement, throughout the lockdown interval and he by no means felt that the self-isolation was boring.

“We go down (the hills) once in every week, most often Saturdays, to collect baby food, medicines and other essential articles. Isolating from the outside world has never made me sad. We are happy with our farming and all. If everything we want is around, why should we go out,” he advised P T I.

Forest officers additionally assist them get important articles throughout the time of emergencies.

Tapioca, ginger and beans had been essentially the most frequent crops cultivated within the forest-fringe farms, the tribal youth added.

Marayur forest vary officer, M G Vinod Kumar stated his division was giving all help to the efforts of the inhabitants of Koodalkattukudy to maintain their settlements freed from the illness.

“Self-isolation is the mantra that has helped these tribesmen to keep the virus infection at bay. All government departments including the forest department are extending every possible support to them for this,” he advised P T I.

Only these individuals, who acquired two doses of vaccine or these possessing a COVID unfavorable certificates, can be permitted contained in the settlements.

“It is applicable even to Forest officials, health department or janamaithri police personnel or any other official staff. Recently, we did not permit an anganwadi teacher to go inside the settlement as she was yet to take her second dose,” he stated.

Designated tribesmen would come out to purchase important articles as soon as in every week.

“Lemon grass oil is one of the major produces of tribals here. As they are under self-isolation, they will inform us whenever it is ready. We will go and collect it and sell it in our eco shops and give them the money received for the product,” the officer stated.

The division personnel additionally acquire and provides medicines and important articles on Saturdays when tribal volunteers ship messages by way of WhatsApp, he added.

District Medical Officer, Dr Priya N stated up to now no COVID-19 case has been reported in these hamlets.

A self-imposed lockdwon, applied by the tribal Oorukoottam, has helped themprotect themselves and hold the illness at bay, she stated.

No one from Edamalakkudy has been popping out of the hamlet for pointless issues for the reason that first wave of the pandemic final yr.

Those tribal individuals, who used to return out of the forest to gather important issues,are making certain that they don’t seem to be travelling to containmentzones or different high-risk areas, she stated.

“They are very cooperative with the health department directives. Our personnel are visiting the settlements in periodic intervals. No person in the hamlet has shown any symptom of this viral infection throughout these days,” she advised P T I.

On vaccination of tribal individuals in Edamalakkudy, Dr Priya stated they’re keen for it.

“As of now, our plan is to vaccinate the tribesmen. A decision in this regard is to be taken jointly by the Collector, panchayat and other officials concerned,” she added.

Healthy way of life of individuals and climatic situation additionally thought of to be the opposite causes that assist the tribal individuals to beat the illness.