Restrictions In Andamans To Prevent COVID-19 Spread Among Vulnerable Tribes

Port Blair: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has decided to restrict the number of vehicles passing through Jarawa tribal reserve in South Andaman district with immediate effect to prevent the spread of coronavirus among its indigenous population, officials said on Monday. The district administration in Nicobar has made it mandatory for people seeking to enter its islands to produce COVID-19 test certificates, in order to protect the Nicobarese tribal population from the infection, they said.

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The tribes of the Union territory have low immunity to diseases due to their minimal contact with the outside world. Only one convoy per day has been permitted to ply on the Andaman Trunk Road, which passes through the Jarawa tribal reserve, between Jirkatang and Middle Strait areas in South Andaman district, the officials said. The convoy will leave Jirkatang at 10 am and begin its return journey from Middle Strait at 3 pm, they said.

The health status of drivers, crew and passengers will be checked. Travellers are urged to take safety precautions, keep windows of the vehicles shut and not give food to Jarawas or allow them inside the vehicles, an official said.

The South Andaman district administration has asked both private and government offices, barring those engaged in essential services, to work at 50 per cent capacity and in staggered working hours to prevent the spread of the disease, an order issued by its deputy commissioner said.

Shops in the Port Blair Municipal Council area have also been asked not to allow more than five persons at a time inside the business establishments. Bigger showrooms and supermarkets are urged to operate at 50 per cent capacity, it said. Buses and ships deployed in the district should also operate at 50 per cent passenger capacity.

A jeep is permitted to carry a maximum of four passengers, a taxi three and an auto rickshaw two, the order said. Those found violating the order will face legal action under sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Indian Penal Code, it added. The Union territory has so far registered 324 COVID-19 cases, of which, 142 are active and 182 people have recovered, officials added.

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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.