While Corona has struck havoc all over India and its infection and death rates have spread shockwaves, at least 14 villages in three districts of Odisha have emerged as a silver lining with not a single Covid positive case detected so far.
These villages in Nayagarh, Ganjam and Keonjhar districts have managed to keep the deadliest virus at bay by adhering to the Covid protocols. Untouched by Covid during its first wave last year, the residents of six villages, Godasahi, Gachhapatar, Kusupalla, Girinda, Kendua and Kantasiri, in Patia GP under Ranpur block in Nayagarh district are living without fear for Covid infection in the second wave too.
Situated about 20 km away from Tangi Block in Khordha district, whichis worst-affected by Covid-19, Patia GP has earned praise for its six villages that have not reported a single Covid case since the pandemic began last year. Sources said that the distance between each village is 5 to 6 km. Last year, 15 migrants had returned to Godasahi village, which has 64 households and a population of 350, from Kerala during nationwide lockdown. As part of precautionary measure to contain spread of infection, they were kept under quarantine for a period of 14 days.
However, not a single returnee was found infected with Covid. “ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers are creating awareness among villagers about deadly consequences of coronavius infection. People are following the Government’s instructions.
Once a week or a month, people from the village visit hospitals in neighboring Tangi or Chandpur if required,” said villagers Purna Chandra Nayak, Biswanath Nayak and Kalu Nayak. Although these six villages are neglected in all aspects by the district administration, a road has been paved by the efforts of Patia Sarpanch Prabhat Sahu.
Similarly in Keonjhar district, where there are 31 GPs, all but one are affected by Covid 19 and the panchayat still remaining untouched by the deadly contagion is K Balipal.
In the second wave, while the Bonda Hills and many tribal regions have been affected by the Covid in the State, this tribal dominated panchayat is safe thanks to the awareness among people. They have been maintaiuning all precautions to stay safe from the tenterhooks of Covid. The panchayat consists of seven villages with population of over 5,000.The residents of the villages strictly obey the Covid guidelines while they are stepping out from their houses for some necessary work.
The tribals who are aware of the contagious disease do not allow any outsider into their villages during the pandemic. Young people from villages working outside the State are being kept under quarantine for 14 days as directed by the Government.
Sarpanch Rambha Patra said that any person complaining of fever and cold is undergoing Covid test. Similarly, Karanjara village in Danapur panchayat under Khalikote block in Ganjam district has set an example for other villages with zero Covid case. At a time when Ganjam district was the Covid hotspot in the State last year, the village with 261 households and approximately a population of 1,234, had not reported a single case during first wave.
In January this year, the local administration had conducted Covid test on 32 villagers and all of them tested negative, a resident of the village said.