KORAPUT: The Rayagada district administration has vaccinated 1,050 eligible particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of Dongria Kondhs of above 45 years of age against Covid-19 till Monday.
More than 45% of the eligible persons of the community have so far been vaccinated against the viral disease and others will be taking the jab soon, said collector (Rayagada) Saroj Kumar Mishra.
Vaccinating the Dongria Kondhs assumes significance as initially the community refused to undergo the rapid antigen tests saying that they believe nothing like Covid-19 exists and nothing would happen to them as they are worshippers of Niyam Raja (the tribal deity).
The refusal of the Dongria Kondhs to be vaccinated had put the administration in a quandary as 141 members of the community, which had remained largely untouched during the first wave, went down with the viral disease this time.
According to the collector, the administration adopted a multi-pronged strategy to convince the Dongria Kondhs to undergo tests for Coivd-19.
While massive awareness drive was launched against the disease in villages inhabitated by the community, village heads, the community priests and influencers were engaged in motivating tribals, the collector said.
Official source said out of the 141 Covid-19 infected Dongria Kondhs, as many as 136 have been discharged from the Covid care centres and only five are under treatment.
Not a single Covid-19 casualty was reported from the Dongria Kondh community. Currently, the Covid-19 situation in villages inhabited by the community is under control and all necessary steps have been taken to keep the viral disease away from the tribals, the collector said.
As many as 2,461 Dongria Kondh families reside in 102 villages in the Niyamgiri hills spread across Bissamkatak, Kalyansinghpur and Muniguda blocks. Their population numbers 9,597.
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