Maya Vishwakarma’s telemedicine centre is reaching out to the sick in rural Madhya Pradesh
At a time when inadequate health facilities in rural areas are struggling to cope with the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic, Maya Vishwakarma from Narsinghpur district in Madhya Pradesh, runs a 10-bed healthcare centre out of her home since March this year, where she dispenses basic health care and treatment for fevers, colds and coughs.
Arvind Shukla
Farmers throng banks in rural areas to collect Rs 2,000 under PM Kisan Scheme; COVID protocols missing
On May 14, PM Narendra Modi released the eighth instalment of the PM Kisan Yojana. Since then, farmers in rural areas have rushed to banks to withdraw their grant, unmindful of COVID19 protocols. There is fear this may result in further spread of the virus.
Arvind Shukla
Tomatoes for a rupee or two a kilo, farmers in Haryana dump their produce in the fields to rot
The prices offered at the wholesale markets for Haryana’s tomatoes are so low that they don’t even cover the transportation costs. As a result, farmers find it better to destroy their yields than selling it.
Arvind Shukla
‘No vaccination, no sanitisation— yet, we bank employees are called Corona warriors’
Despite being lauded as Corona warriors by the Union government, bank workers have a tough time availing of facilities available to other frontline workers. With their demands being constantly ignored by authorities, bankers speak about the challenges they face during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arvind Shukla
The COVID19 lockdown leaves fruit and vegetable farmers in a soup
Coronavirus has left vegetable and fruit cultivators staring at huge losses as one state after another is imposing full or partial lockdowns. Meanwhile, consumers in the cities end up paying exorbitant rates for the fruits and vegetables.
Arvind Shukla
‘It is a complete circus in the village!’: Rural India apprehensive of wedding ceremonies amidst surging COVID19 cases
The surge in COVID 19 pandemic in rural India is still not coming in the way of weddings, rituals and other ceremonies, all of which are well attended. But those who are better acquainted about the pandemic fear the villages are ripe for an explosion of COVID 19 cases.
Arvind Shukla
As COVID19 wreaks havoc on rural India, local medical stores are the only aid for villagers
Amidst negligible arrangements for medical aid, little testing and rising number of infections, people living in villages have been left to depend on local medical stores for treatment. These stores themselves are short on supplies.
Arvind Shukla
“We cremated 140 bodies of those who died of COVID 19 in the past one month”
By providing a dignified cremation to those who have succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Roti Kapda initiative, in Udgir in Maharashtra, spreads hope and a sense of closure to families who are unable to perform the last rites of their dear ones due to the restrictions.
Arvind Shukla
‘Lost my mother to Corona, father in hospital, loans are rising — even relatives have given up now’
The second wave of COVID19 pandemic is translating into increasing debt for families who are struggling to raise resources to treat COVID patients. Some already have loans worth a few lakh due to corona treatment.
Arvind Shukla
UP Panchayat Elections: Villagers terrified city-dwellers will bring home votes and COVID-19
Twenty districts, including state capital Lucknow, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Varanasi that are currently reeling under COVID-19, went to the polls on April 19. The second phase of the UP panchayat elections just wrapped up, and villagers fear there will be a spike in infections.