Against all odds

A polio-stricken anganwadi worker is at the heart of a Madhya Pradesh village's fight against Covid-19

- SRAVANI SARKAR

Rachna Mewada's house is but a few steps from the bylane running through Hi-rapur village in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. The 24-year-old, however, is aware that even a few steps can tire out anganwadi worker Ramkalan Mewada, who is on her daily rounds of the village. By the time Ramkalan, 36, arrives at her doorstep, beads of sweat dot her face despite the pleasant February weather. Rachna, who is four months pregnant, greets her with a glass of water, and puts out a charpai for her to sit on.

Ramkalan sits down, resting her pair of crutches on the wooden cot, and takes a few sips of water. Then begin her inquiries: Was Rachna having enough greens in her diet? Was she taking the iron tablets on time? Was she taking enough rest? Does she remember that her next vaccination is due on Tuesday? Was she giving the supplementary food— supplied as take-home ration by the anganwadi—to her son Hardik, who will soon be three years old?

To each of these queries, Rachna nods in the affirmative. But her eyes remain on Ramkalan, observing the steadying of her breath. She takes the empty tumbler from Ramkalan, and then asks the anganwadi worker a few questions of her own.

Caring is a collective affair in Hirapur—home to 1,670 villagers including 140 children and 130 adolescents. And that is what got this village, located 90km from Bhopal, safely through the pandemic. Despite 80 migrant workers returning to the village at the height of Covid-19 in May-June 2020, no positive case was reported. Neighbouring Kajikhedi, however, reported at least a dozen cases.