Madhya Pradesh: At Khargone village, women with canes enforce lockdown

KHARGONE: In the tribal dominated Jhirniya panchayat, a group of red saree clad women in village Chainpur have taken up the task of enforcing the lockdown and are keeping vigil with canes.


Savitri Bai, Gyarsi Bai and Laxmi Bai of Chainpur (seven km from Jhirnia) said it is well known that the police force was limited, so they took the initiative to support police and administration by barricading roads of Bhikangaon and Pipri.

Chinta Bai and Sagar Bai said that they keep a vigil from 7 am to 7 pm and stop each person and alert them about the deadly virus. They are also ensuring that people wear masks.

Equipped with canes, Kiran Bai and Radha Bai said they don’t allow anybody to exit the village until and unless it is a medical emergency. As many as 35 women of six self-help groups (SHG) are engaged in guarding who take turns to go home to finish their chores and get back for duty. In between, they also look after their small kids. NRLM (National Rural

Livelihood

Mission) sources told TOI, “Since a week, women of six SHGs at Chainpur are performing the duties with a dress code, which is quite different from other

villages

.”

They said that at residents of Jhirnia, Metaval, Ratanpur and other villages were also keeping a watch. Around 12,000 masks have been made by SHGs and distributed in the block to labourers and villagers.

A youth of Marugarh village in Jhirniya janpad panchayat, who had come to Indore, had tested coronavirus positive. The administration declared it as a containment area but panic

spread

and locals decided to come forward to protect the villages.

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