At a time when police have been enforcing lockdown in towns, villagers are setting examples of restricted movement and social distancing for their urban counterparts in Subarnapur district.
Ever since the lockdown was announced on Tuesday, the Subarnapur district administration and police have been facing a tough time in preventing people from moving out without legitimate reasons in towns. There have been instances when police had to apply force to prevent social gathering in Sonepur, Birmaharajpur,Ullunda, Binka, Tarbha and Dunguripali towns and maintain social distancing among people buying essentials.
However, the scene is entirely different in rural parts of the district where villages have been barricaded to prevent people from entering. Social gatherings are a strict no-no while hand washing has been mandatory before entering houses.
Villages of Sibtula, Sargaj, Khaliapali and Bahalpadar under Subarnapur district have been shut down for outsiders by locals. "If the Government is time and again asking us to avoid outdoors and unnecessary travel to control spread of Corona virus, then it's for our good. There is no harm in following the norms for some days for the well being of all," said Jayanta Mishra, a youth guarding the barricade put up at Sargaj.
At Sibtula village, youths have been assigned to check entry of outsiders into the village and ensure that the villagers practice hand washing and social distancing. The entrance of the village has been fenced and villagers confine themselves to their houses unless there is an emergency.
"Except stepping out only for medical reasons or buying essentials from areas outside village limits, we largely remain indoors, " said Digambar Karna, a social worker of Sibtula gram panchayat.