The ill-fated tribals of Magurgandapatana tribal basti under Sadar block of Kendrapada have been leading a cursed life for more than a week as they were socially boycotted in the village. They were restricted to draw water from village tubewell and buy grocery and vegetables from the local shops, as they were suspected to be reeling under monkeypox disease. Even their children were debarred from going to school for fear of further spread of the disease.
As many as 42 tribal families are staying at Magurgandapatana’s tribal basti. One Lalu Sidhu, son of Rabi Sidhu, who was working at a Bangalore-based rod rolling mill, had returned home on June 20. He later developed abdomen pain and skin related disease.
Lalu was treated at the Kendrapada District Headquarters Hospital and later, referred to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. But Lalu died while he was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Later, deceased Lalu’s family developed skin related ailments. As a result, rumour spread in the locality that monkeypox has broken out at the tribal basti. Being panicked, the locals restricted the tribal residents to work as a daily wager apart from boycotting them socially.
According to the tribals, though a population of around 400 is staying in the village, they have to depend on a lone tubewell to collect water. But following the social boycott, the locals are now consuming unhygienic canal water to meet their daily needs.
Meanwhile, after getting information, a medico team from the DHH, Kendrapada, visited the tribal basti to take stock of the situation and provide treatment to the tribals.