Tribals at increased risk from COVID-19

Civil society organisations and independent researchers from all over the country have prepared a report explaining how the lockdown is adversely affecting tribal communities and forest dwellers amid an acute lack of awareness It will be presented before the central and various state governments this weekThe assessment is prepared by civil society organisations and independent researchers who are working with tribals and forest dwellers These include Campaign for Survival and Dignity Chandigarh Soumitra Ghosh of the All India Forum for Forest Movement AIFFM Neema Pathak Broome of Kalpavriksh Pune Tushar Dash and Sushmita independent researchers among several others Work on the report has been in the pipeline ever since the enforcement of the lockdown measures on March 24Representative image tribal villagers in Jharkhand Picture SushmitaRemote location a challengeAccording to the report lack of information among the tribals and forest dwellers about the pandemic and about the required protective measures is a major issue in tribal areas Tribal settlements are located remotely thereby making it particularly difficult for information to reach there reads the report The reverse migration from cities and urban areas also raises concern about spreading of the virus in tribal areasThe report highlights how a lack of proper healthcare facilities and low testing numbers of tribal populations increases the risk of infection and how the lockdown has affected collection use and sale of Minor Forest Produce MFP by tribals and forest dwellers It also includes recommendations to the Centre on how to combat the issue and help the communities in needRepresentative image tribal villagers in Jharkhand Picture SushmitaSpeaking with midday independent researcher Sushmita said COVID19 impacts people with compromised health conditions and low immunity This increases risks of infection amid the tribal populations living in deprivation Testing and monitoring of the disease is inadequate and is mostly limited to urban areas Providing testing facilities in tribal areas is a major challengeAccording to independent researcher Tushar Das The lockdown has affected collection use and sale of MFP by tribals and forest dwellers An estimated 100 million forest dwellers depend on MFP for food shelter medicines and cash income The MFP collection season from April to June provides major income support to tribals almost 60 per cent of the annual collection takes place during this period and unfortunately it coincides with the lockdown The trading and value chain of NonTimber Forest Produce NTFPs has been completely disrupted under the lockdown as traders are not willing to buy NTFPs in the current situationThe report recommendsAccording to both Sushmita and Tushar the Central government is yet to come up with a comprehensive COVID19 response programme for tribal communitiesThe report recommends the Ministry of Tribal Affairs MoTA set up a COVID19 response cell and give specific guidelines to address the problems of tribals and forest dwellers The MoTA should also ensure that district and subdistrict level officers are well informed about all relevant guidelines and orders related to COVID19 regularly and ensure that these are complied with Sushmita saidThe Centre should coordinate with the state governments to provide immediate relief to the tribal communities by ensuring information and awareness providing health care and testing facilities in the tribal areas support for MFP collection and sale Tushar added100Approx no of forest dwellers in millions depending on Minor Forest ProduceCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news