COVID-19 has now touched 5 million cases in India, with about a million active cases. The infections are spreading in all the states, especially in the rural areas.

In fighting COVID-19 in the villages, health authorities should seek the cooperation of the village headman and the local panchayat. The panchayat is a five-man elected committee, which governs the village administratively. The village headman and the panchayat are responsible for managing the village.

The village headman and the local panchayat carry authority and credibility in the villages. Their cooperation is critical to curtail COVID-19 in the rural areas. They have to be briefed about the dangers of COVID-19 and how to prevent the spread of the disease.

The local governing bodies should also form an auxiliary volunteer force called “COVID-19 Fighters,” comprising young boys and girls from the village, who will brief people on a home-to-home basis about the dangers of COVID-19 and how to avoid infections.

The weekly markets in the villages attracts hundreds to thousands of villagers to buy food grains, apparel, animals like goats and hens, etc. Local panchayats and the “COVID-19 Fighters” volunteer force should ensure that social distancing is practised at these weekly markets.

The fight against COVID-19 in the villages has to be fought on a war footing, since the health infrastructure could be weak in some areas and information flow may not be rapid.

Rajendra Aneja
Mumbai, India