The recent mass vaccination drive, especially meant for the Bonda Tribe in Khairput block of Malkangiri district and the Dongaria Kondh tribe in Niyamgiri Hills of Rayagada district has created unpredicted tensions for the district administrations due to lack of awareness among both the tribes.  However, administration accepts this challenge positively and has devised a new strategy to protect the primitive tribal population in particular and other tribal groups in general.

In a mission mode, the Rayagada district administration, especially Kolanara Block Development Officer sought the collaborative support hand of CSOs in the process of Covid Vaccination, RTPCR, Rapid Antigen Test, TTT (Test, Track & Treatments) Policy implementation and home to home survey involving community based organisations and grassroots volunteers for mass awareness creation. Responding to the call made by Kolnara Block Administration at the GO-NGO Coordination meeting, CYSD, being a key play in Rayagada district, extended its obligatory support in 10 Gram Panchayats (GPs) of Konara Block. The GPs are Suri, Kolanara, Badhakilapadar, Dunduli, Gadisekhal (5 GPs in plain area) and 5 GPs above Kailsh Ghati like, Rekhapadar, Bhoimoda, Katikana, Bankili and Jhoridi.

In the process of extending support to the said GPs, CYSD has been able to reach around 5742 population of 98 villages in  Kolanara block through village youth volunteers, CRPs and more importantly approaching the educated youth mass – using video conferences, WhatsApp groups to motivate their own community people and get them involved in the vaccination drive.

CYSD field volunteers along with ANM, ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers jointly took an innovative step to persuade the tribal people i.e. by adopting a strategy to reach every house from village to village in 10 GPs. Through this intervention out of 2247 eligible persons for vaccination in Rekhapadar GP, a total of 45 person took the first dose in one go. “This is quite encouraging for my GP, I am quite sure, adopting this mobilisation process, my GP will achieve 100 % vaccination in next 2-3 months”, said Ms. Jayanti Tadingi, Sarapanch, Rekhapadar Gram Panchayat.