Idukki: Even when the number of Covid-19 cases created bursts in the second wave, a tribal hamlet in the forest has opposed the pandemic in Kerala.
Anchuruli, a tribal hamlet under the Kenchiyar Grama Panchayat in Idukki, has prevented the entry of Covid-19 in the first and second waves with their own prevention method.
According to members of the Shaji Velamparampil ward, a total of 45 Muthuvan families, consisting of 164 members, live in the Anchuruli tribe settlement.
“During the first Covid wave, tribal head, including Panchayat members, decided to ban the entry of outsiders in the settlement.
The young man from the village ensured that no outsiders were in and managed to prevent the entry of the virus,” Velamparamil said.
“The settlement of anchuruli is located about seven kilometers from the main road.
This area shares the border with the Idukki Dam Reservoir, and people are involved in fishing, collecting forest goods and farming,” he said.
According to officials, more than 90% of the total population in Anchuruli is vaccinated.
“At present, 90 people in the area above 18 years are vaccinated in completion, and the other ten will be vaccinated in the coming days.
First, they showed reluctance to receive vaccines.
But after consciousness, they showed the willingness to take vaccines,” Velamparampil said.
Adimali Tribal Development Officer (TDO) Anil Bhaskar said that the number of positive cases in the tribal community was largely reduced.
“The personal prevention method especially helps them prevent viruses.
Now, this district only has 141 tribeseople under Covid-19 treatment,” said Bhaskar.
“Adimali District consists of 311 settlements and 20,101 families.
Of the total population of 65,130, 16,604 tribeseople have received the first dose.
A total of 2,778 tribeseople in this district were tested positively, and 33 died in the second wave of Covid-19,” the official said.