Villages near Madurai fenced with neem leaves

MADURAI: Two villages in Sivaganga district, ironically bearing the same name Madagupatti and located about 25 kms apart, have gone into self-imposed containment with a fence of neem leaves in a move to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
K Kumar, a resident of Madagupatti in Sivaganga union, said they had decided to keep the disease at bay by imposing some strict measures. "It is a tradition to hang neem leaves outside houses when someone is infected with a contagious disease, but this time we decided to use it to send out a clear message to the people and outsiders," he said. Panchayat president M Saraswathy said the two Madagupattis - the other one in Singampunari union - were "closely related" and decided to follow strict measures. Apart from the neem-fence, she said they had blocked the roads leading to their village with thorns. Every day, a huge cauldron of concoction made of herbs, pepper, dry ginger, zeera, guava leaf and turmeric is put to boil on wood fire at night. In the morning, this drink is distributed to all villagers in the 2,650 houses.
People coming to visit their families from outside have to compulsorily wash their hands and feet with soap and water. "It causes some discomfort, but it is also the reason why we have not had any Covid death from our village,'' said Muthukumar, a villager.