Awaiting care: Cholanayka newborns at sea in rock caves

KOZHIKODE: Two women from the Cholanayka tribe and their newborns are languishing in rock caves in the interior forest in Karulayi range of Nilambur without medical care. According to sources, Kaada, 28, delivered a child on July 1 at Kannikai and Shelvi, 27, on the next day at Poochapara. Both places are about 16 km from Karulayi, deep in the forest.

“Among them, only Shelvi came out of the forest after waiting for a health team for 10 days and got admitted at the Nilambur taluk hospital. She was discharged along with her newborn child on Wednesday. There is no information about Kaada and her child,” said a health worker, who was working in the tribal area. According to rules, delivery at homes must be attended to within 24 hours.

However, neither of the women got monetary benefits during their pregnancy under the Central health scheme, Janani Suraksha Yogana, which entitles them to receive Rs 1,000 per month. Cholanayka, the primitive tribe, has only 300 people in the state scattered in Mancheeri, Kannikai, Paanapuzha, Thalipuzha areas in the Karulayi range of Nilambur forests.

“Besides denying nutritious food during the pregnancy, the newborn was not given vaccination,” said the health worker. Malappuram district programme coordinator of the NGO, Mahila Samakhya, Rajeena M. told this newspaper that though the tribal officers had a plan to bring the pregnant Cholanayka women near the hospital and offer temporary shelter there, nothing materialised.

“Cholanaykars are hesitant to mingle with other people. Hence, the temporary shelter and health facilities were proposed,” she elaborated. Due to lack of timely care, a Cholanayka woman had to abort in Kozhikode Medical College recently. Malappuram district medical officer Dr V. Ummer Farook said that he was unaware of the case of Kaada and would make inquiries.