The residents of the remote village of Edamalakkudy in Idukki district of Kerala have been under self-declared lockdown since July 1 to prevent the spread of COVID19.
The first tribal Panchayat in Kerala is considered to be the Edamalakkudy in Idukki. This Panchayat falls under the Munnar Wildlife Division in Kerala. The secretary of the Edamalakkudy Vana Samrakshana Samithi (VSS), Ramesh, informed that the residents announced ‘self-lockdown’ so that the spread of COVID-19 can be prevented. He also added further that the residents have decided not to move outside the Edamalakkudy unless the disease gets under control.
The above decision was taken with respect to the ban on the outsiders entering the tribal village. This ban was applied in June by the director of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department and is strictly followed in the Munnar division to date.
The 2011 Census says that there are a total of 2400 residents in the Edamalakkudy. The reports suggest that as soon as the pandemic rose, all the residents practiced social distancing all over the Edamalakkudy and followed all the rules and regulations regarding keeping themselves clean. Since the start of the pandemic, they have actively participated in keeping themselves and their surroundings clean and safe.
Inputs from The News Minute