Villagers carry an ailing woman in a doli to the hospital, at Indiganatha village, Hanur taluk, Chamarajanagar district.
Credit: Screengrab from viral video
Hanur (Chamarajanagar dist): A video clip of some villagers shifting an ailing old woman in a makeshift 'doli' (palanquin) to the hospital went viral on social media on Thursday.
The woman has been identified as Dundamma who was staying at her son Madegowda's house in Indiganathha village. On Thursday, she suffered some health issues and had to be taken to the hospital. As there was no vehicular facility, the people of the village helped Madegowda shift his mother in a 'doli' to the hospital. They had to pass through the forest route and reach Mahadeshwara Betta Primary Health Centre, where she was provided treatment and is recovering.
Janamana Sarige
It is noteworthy that the district administration, in association with the Forest department had launched 'Janamana Sarige', and operated three jeeps, around two years ago. It was useful during medical emergencies, carrying food and other commodities and also helped the children of tribal hamlets to reach schools and colleges. But the service was suspended after a few months. Repeated requests by the villagers to the Forest department to resume the facility fell on deaf ears.
It may be mentioned that the villagers boycotted the Lok Sabha elections demanding basic facilities and also damaged the voting machines. Though, the district administration promised to provide basic amenities. But, no such attempts have been made and the people are still dependent on unusual means to take patients to the hospital.