Tilaidabra

 

By the time Cyclone Arnab turned its attention to Bilaspur and Mungeli districts in Chhattisgarh, it had spent much of its force and become a tropical storm. It still had plenty of punch in it, though, and the rain that began in Ganiyari village last afternoon around 4 pm continues unabated as I write this at 10.30 pm on a Thursday. 

It also followed us to Tilaidabra village today. I was there with a team from Jan Swasthya Sahyog - an antenatal clinic was to be held in the village for the surrounding villages of Lamni and Atariya as well. While my colleague was busy with that, I went with Doman the senior health worker on some home visits to see hypertensive patients. Visiting patients required walking around the valley on paths made slushy with rain, while Arnab kept up a steady rain, blowing and gusting, sometimes tugging at my umbrella, sometimes letting up a bit as though to tease us, before resuming its downpour. 

Tilaidabra is a beautiful village, located deep in the Achanakmar forest, and ringed by hills. The village is spread out on undulating ground and consists of ---- households. It is slated for relocation, and the move was to be before Diwali next weekend (8th November), but apparently the construction of their houses in the new location is incomplete. Either way, they will be moved before the end of the year. 

The village health worker took me around the village to visit patients in their homes. She does not want to leave her peaceful life here in the forest. But opinion about the move is divided - some are tempted with the cash compensation that they expect, as well as cellphone and road connectivity.

There were very few antenatals present today, the rain and chill wind having kept several of them away. One of the pregnant women had gone to the forest with her husband  - he to collect a fragrant resin, and she to collect tender bamboo shoots. 

What they take for granted now - access to forest produce, will soon not be available to them. Once they are relocated outside the forest, they will be unable to enter it again. I wonder how they will cope. And I feel sorry for what I fear is in store for them.