THANE: Considering that the federal lockdown was declared in March-end 2020, Maharashtra was convulsed from the coronavirus, that is made over 57 lakh ill and claimed nearly a lakh of these lifestyles.
However a nondescript village of more than a million inhabitants about 100km northeast out of here has been able to remain Covid-free for over 425 days, because of the technical wisdom of its seniors and collective security efforts.
Kalbhonde, a tribal hamlet nearly on the boundary of Thane and Nashik districts, initially isolated .
When lockdown was declared last March, the village priests held an appointment and secured the village.
They put up a makeshift isolation center in the entrance stage, with no government assistance, for its residents who mainly worked in neighbouring regions as pest control.
“The villagers are mainly used as farm labor in neighbouring places and following the lockdown, most began arriving home.
The seniors convinced that the womenfolk the isolation of the husbands and relatives could benefit from the village, ensuring minimum immunity,” said Prashant Marke, a zilla parishad g sewak.
The village also has unanimously determined to dissuade inviting people unless in a crisis, a guideline being followed.
The attempts of these villagers have attracted applause from government officials also.
“The unity and discipline revealed from the inhabitants to maintain their village virus-free for more than a year today is commendable.
It was crucial to remember that the villagers here guaranteed strict compliance with security protocols, something which isn’t seen in metropolitan locations,” said Thane zilla parishad CEO Bhausaheb Dangade.
It was not all smooth sailing,” stated Bhalchandra Khadke, a villager.
Panic set up with information of this virus that is tainted, also villagers barricaded the sole path to the village by putting enormous boulders and tree branches to discourage any car motion in or out.
“The villagers originally refused to let government officials to input, but we spoke to them and also made them aware of the measures to be obtained.
The villagers encouraged using sanitisers and sprays and the protocol remains followed however there aren’t any cases ,” explained Marke.
Khadke reported the pandemic also produced the villagers realise the value of self-sustenance and several changed back into tilling their own lands and swallowing meals readily available from the woods.
Even the villagers denied a few NGOs that needed to supply rations and indicated they move funds for their g panchayat.
“We chose to prevent any contact and chose to rely on homegrown veggies and on fruits and seeds,” explained Khadke.
The isolation helped deliver the villagers nearer since they, together with local health workers, started keeping an eye on the elderly and people ill and assured their health was tracked.
Kalbhonde isn’t letting down its guard.
“We’ve got a community that alerts others in case a stranger is seen trying to go into our village.
But, nobody is denied entrance if they follow safety standards,” explained Khadke.