Awareness about Covid being created among Kutia Kondhs at Sarengi village in Kandhamal
BERHAMPUR: While rising infections among particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) is causing worry among the administration, the Kotia Kondh in Kandhamal district has managed to stay free of Covid-19 so far during the second wave.
As many as 1661 families of Kutia Kondhs, with a population of 8,662, are living in 68 villages and hamlets spread over four panchayats in two blocks (Tumudibandh and Kotagarh) of the district.
“The Kutia Kondhs have managed to keep the virus away so far,” said Kandhamal district collector Brundha D. A medical team conducted rapid antigen test on around 50 Kutia Kondhs in Sakarajodi, a remote village in Kotagarh block on Saturday. All of them tested negative. “We have launched a drive to conduct door-to-door survey of the Kutia Kondhs from Tuesday to find out symptomatic people,” said Renudhar Naik, special officer, Kutia Kondh Development Agency (KKDA).