Odisha Fights Corona: Responsible Community Behaviour By Nomads On Bhubaneswar Pitch

Bhubaneswar: The prolonged lockdown and its rigid norms may have called upon the patience of the people in cities and villages. But a group of nomads has proved how to carry out usual works in this unusual time.

The group of nomads belonging to Bahellia tribal community from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh had camped under the flyover in Rasulgarh. On being informed about them after the lockdown was put into force, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Choudhary directed the Welfare wing to shift them to a safe place.

But the BMC team found it a tough job to convince the group comprising five families about the health risk posed by corona virus. The nomads, obviously, were not aware of lockdown or COVID-19.

“It was an uphill task to counsel the families as they were totally unaware. But the group was finally convinced due to constant touch and support of the BMC team,” Chaudhary said.

The nomads were finally shifted by the BMC team with support from the police to a transit arrangement at an Ashram school in Rasulgarh on April 19. They are now earning their livelihood by making brooms with date palm tree leaves and selling those even while adhering to the lockdown guidelines.

“Initially, we could not understand how we would earn livelihood while following the lockdown norms and corona protocols. However, the BMC officials kept on visiting us and explained the safety guidelines,” said Rajeswar Sisodiya, a member of the nomad group.

Ved Ram, another member of the group, said it would not have been possible to do the seasonal business without the support from the BMC.

BMC deputy commissioner, Welfare, Kamalakanta Behera said it was a great experience in motivating these nomadic families, orienting them about the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping them in a safe place.