The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Training in yoga to instil health discipline among tribals

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Sunday, Aug 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Training in yoga to instil health discipline among tribals

S. Harpal Singh

TRS leader takes up innovative concept following deaths in agency villages due to viral fever

Lack of awareness on health and sanitation
Villagers reluctant to visit government hospitals

Indisposed: Gangabai and her daughter Devikabai, both struck by viral fever, in Adilabad district.

JAMNI (ADILABAD DT.): As the number of viral fever deaths continues to mount in agency villages in Adilabad district, an experiment in ‘health discipline’ is being tried out at Jamni village in Jainad mandal. Youth in this village will be provided training in yoga starting August 25 to cause an awakening towards health-related matters through this innovative concept.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader and former Adilabad ZP chairperson Ch. Suhasini Reddy has organised the yoga training programme in the village. The death of a young couple in the village due to viral fever recently had prompted her to undertake a study of the environment of the village.

“Our study revealed that this tribal village is comparatively well off economically and in other areas. Training in yoga was opted as an entry-level activity intended to properly channelise the energy of the youths with regard to health,” explains Ms. Suhasini Reddy.

“In addition to official neglect, there is a general lack of awareness among villagers on health, hygiene and sanitation. The yoga classes are aimed not only at keeping the body of the villagers healthy but giving rise in them sufficient enthusiasm towards hygiene,” she adds.

Jamni village is located about 20 km away from Adilabad on the road to Lokari in Narnoor mandal. It presents a proper picture of typical problems that dog tribal villages. At present many, especially children, in several of the 260 households in the village are down with viral fevers and jaundice. The villagers have also become sceptic about accessing medicine in government hospitals. After the death of the couple reportedly because of the apathy of doctors in the RIMS, the villagers swear of not trusting the government hospitals.

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