This Medical scheme in Tamil Nadu reaches out to the most deprived

'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' was launched at a village in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu last August. Nearly 10 million people benefitted from this scheme throughout the state. But the most unreachable villages too availed of this scheme rolled out by the DMK Government. One such village is Kadamakuttai of Krishnagiri District.

Transformation of Kadamakuttai Village:

Roughly 150 houses are in this village. Away from the noise of the busy cities, Kadamakuttai is more peaceful, calm, quiet, and full of greenery, where one can always breathe fresh air and stay healthy without any pollution. Yet, this village suffered from lack of medical aid. This scenario was totally different from the current status of Kadamakuttai. Government doctors visit this village periodically through 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam'.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar explains, "I'm working as a regional Government Doctor at Kolamangalam. When I visited this Kadamakuttai village in 2017 I witnessed people cultivating only regional crops. Bajra, and Ragi were the predominant crops. Other than these, those people couldn't even afford other grains or pulses. So their food habits relied totally on this cultivation process without any diversities.

Lack of Transportation facilities:

Every time I had to travel nearly 4kms to reach this village. As there were no transportation facilities, people carried the patients in a cot for 4kms. The majority of the people living in that village belong to various tribal communities. We planned to assist these people in terms of medical requirements. Initially, We visited once every 3 months to do a regular check-up. But that plan didn't help those people. So we started to visit every month along with social welfare assistants and some volunteers.

Unreachable hilly region:

Without any road facilities along the tough hill pathways, we deliberately wished to reach out to the people through this medical scheme. Every week our team has to walk back and forth for 8kms to assist this village. As it is a hilly region, cold, and fever are common ailments that affect this village. Out of 250 people 100 were getting affected by one or the other ailments. With this 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' scheme our team cares for people with high blood pressure, and diabetes and also treatments related to women.

This scheme helped to treat basic, common medical problems. Not only hilly regions, but the entire Tamilnadu also getting greatly benefitted from this medical scheme. It is a highly successful scheme of this government. Only because of this Scheme last year no one from this Kadamakuttai village was affected by COVID. People reached out to us to get vaccinated properly. When the government plans to do any kind of statistical survey report on 'Villages without COVID', there will be an assured place for Kadamakuttai in that list".

The struggles of Medical Teams:

Nurse Sathya of the Field Medical Service team shares that, "I'm working under the Kolamangalam Panchayat Union. For the very first time, we really struggled to reach this Kadamakuttai village. In the beginning, it was tough because of the lack of proper road facilities. Now we got used to those long walks in the hilly paths of the dense forest. If there was a serious issue, we take the patient to Dharmapuri Hospital to get the needed treatment.

At first people of this village didn't volunteer to get treated. They were worried about taking allopathy medicines. Later through constant knowledge support, they volunteered themselves to get treated. Few weeks ago our team received a call from a pregnant woman. When the team reached the foothills, there were no traces of the patient. The team couldn't contact the village due to a lack of network coverage. So when we all started to walk towards the village, we noticed that a group of villagers were carrying that pregnant woman on that tough hilly path to reach the foothills.

The team immediately took that pregnant woman to Dharmapuri Hospital and saved the mother and her baby. Only because of this scheme the medical team could aid that pregnant women. The entire village thanked CM Stalin for launching this wonderful scheme of 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam'.

CM Stalin's assistance to the village:

Kadamakuttai was totally neglected during the last ruling government. But CM M.K.Stalin personally asked the State Health Minister to visit this village. He personally took care of this village. This made the people of Kadamakuttai to be forever grateful to the Chief Minister. Once there was a request from a family to help their son in getting prosthetic limbs. CM Stalin took this task personally and aided that young boy.

The people of Kadamakuttai never had an eye check-up in their lifetime. For the first time through "makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' those people had a proper eye check-up. 18 people were identified and provided with proper eyeglasses. 4 people received eye surgery. In that way, the people of Kadamakuttai benefitted from this medical scheme of Tamilnadu Government.