Malappuram (Kerala): Amid the outbreak of coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic, several tribal families in Malappuram district of Kerala have resorted to shifting to deep forests, river banks, and caves to observe social distancing - an imperative measure to avoid contracting the deadly virus - for their "safety".
With more than 80 families residing in Malappuram's Peruvambadam colony, of which many are joint families, in no more than 2 acres of land, maintaining a safe physical distance was proving to be difficult prompting the residents to relocate to the nearby forest areas till April 14 - the last day of the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
Bindu Peruvambadam, leader of a Tribal welfare organisation and Manonnaran, an Institute for Transportation and Development (ITDP) promoter.
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Of the 26 families in Ambumala Colony, 14 families are now staying along the banks of Kuravan River in Pandeerayiram forest, eight families of Plakkal Chola Colony have shifted to the banks of Kanjirappuzha River, while another four families belonging to Vennekkodu Colony are now living in caves.
The tribal families and individuals, who resorted to vacate their residence, have alleged that they were forced to shift base owing to the lackadaisical attitude of the health workers in containing the spread of COVID-19.
