Maharashtra: Tribal village keeps visitors and Covid out for 425 days

THANE: Since the national lockdown was announced in March-end 2020, Maharashtra has been convulsed by the coronavirus, which has made over 57 lakh sick and claimed almost a lakh of those lives. But a nondescript village of over a thousand residents about 100km northeast from here has managed to stay Covid-free for more than 425 days, thanks to the practical wisdom of its elders and collective safety efforts.
Kalbhonde, a tribal hamlet almost on the border of Thane and Nashik districts, first isolated itself. As soon as lockdown was announced last March, the village elders held a consultation and sealed the village. Next, they set up a makeshift isolation centre at the entry point, without government help, for the residents who mostly worked in neighbouring areas as farm hands.
“The villagers are predominantly employed as farm labour in neighbouring areas and after the lockdown, many started returning home. The elders convinced the womenfolk that the isolation of their husbands and family members would benefit the village, ensuring minimal resistance,” said Prashant Marke, a zilla parishad gram sewak.
The village has also unanimously decided to discourage inviting visitors unless in an emergency, a rule still being followed.
The efforts of the villagers have drawn applause from government officials too. “The discipline and unity showed by the residents to keep their village virus-free for over a year now is commendable. It was heartening to note that the villagers here ensured strict compliance to safety protocols, something that is not seen in urban areas,” said Thane zilla parishad CEO Bhausaheb Dangade.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, said Bhalchandra Khadke, a villager. Panic set in with news of the unstoppable virus, and villagers barricaded the only road to their village by placing huge boulders and tree branches to deter any vehicle movement in or out. “The villagers initially refused to allow even government officials to enter, but we talked to them and made them aware of the precautions to be taken. The villagers promoted the use of sanitisers and masks and the protocol is still followed though there are no cases here,” said Marke.
Khadke said the pandemic also made the villagers realise the importance of self-sustenance and many switched back to tilling their own lands and consuming food available in the forest. The villagers refused several NGOs that wanted to provide rations and suggested that they transfer funds to their gram panchayat. “We decided to avoid any outside contact and decided to rely more on homegrown vegetables and on wild fruits and roots,” said Khadke.
The isolation helped bring the villagers closer as they, along with local health workers, began keeping a watch on the aged and those ailing and ensured that their health was monitored.
Kalbhonde is not letting its guard down. “We have a network that alerts others if a stranger is spotted attempting to enter our village. However, no one is denied entry if they follow all safety norms,” said Khadke.