Mittabagilu takes up doorstep delivery of essentials, massive testing to tackle Covid

Mittabagilu is one of the 18 Panchayats where district administration has imposed lockdown from June 14 to 21

Shwetha S

Killur, June 17, 2021: It is a beautiful village situated amidst lush green Western Ghats. The villagers of Mittabagilu and Malavanthige mostly who are into agriculture are usually unaffected by the City developments. While the first wave hardly had any effect on the village, the second wave has penetrated this village too.

The number which was very few in the initial days later increased at an alarming rate. The district administration imposed a complete lockdown on those Panchayats which had more than 50 active cases from June 14 to 21. Mithabagilu is one among the 18 such Panchayats in the district.

Realizing the seriousness and the challenge, the villagers, Panchayat members, and the Panchayat Taskforce have joined hands to make Mittabagilu, a Covid free Panchayat.

People have completely stopped activities and do not venture out of the house unnecessarily.

“At present, there are more than 50 cases in the village. As testing is very crucial, we are conducting massive testing in our villages. Three teams are here for testing. The fifteen members conduct testing in crucial places like Milk depot and for shop owners and rickshaw drivers. They are also concentrating on the nearby areas where we have positive cases,” Panchayat vice president Vinayachandra Senarabettu told The Canara Post.
Vinayachandra himself with the taskforce team is on the gate put at the entrance of the Panchayat limits at Killur.

A strict vigil is kept round the clock. They keep a watch sitting in a small temporary shed amidst heavy rain.

“We are here to ensure there is no unnecessary movement within and outside the village. Police personnel too have been posted at the gates,” he said.

Two gates have been put up at the entrance of the Panchayat limits.
While President Lalitha Harish and Ramanna Kumbara supervise the gate at Durganagara, Vinayachandra and Panchayat member Sahul Hameed supervise it at Killur. PDO Jayakirthi and all the Panchayat members are working round the clock to ensure people do not face any problem.

Though the concentration is on enforcing the lockdown, Panchayat members and Task Force are ensuring that nobody faces trouble.

One vehicle carrying fruits and vegetables and another with fish is allowed into the village.

The families who purchase groceries can call the shop and give the list and inform the task force. The task force vehicles deliver it at the doorsteps. The Panchayat is doing the same for the PDS materials also for those who are unable to go to the PDS shops.

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“We are thankful to every villager who has made this lockdown a success. People are abiding by the ban orders and do not venture out. Their support is crucial in the fight against Covid. They are also cooperating during Covid testing. With all this support we are sure we will come out of this,” he added.

Though the lockdown is for one week if the Covid cases do not drop then the district administration is likely to extend it.

The Mittabagilu Panchayat has got good support not only from the public but even the nearby Malavanthige Panchayat.

People of Malavanthige Panchayat have to come to Mithabagilu for supplies, shops, and transportation.

“Malavanthige too has voluntarily declared lockdown and cooperated with us,” Vinaychandra added.