Sans pucca road, Anaicut tribal women deliver on way to hospital

Residents of the Kurumalai, Vellakalmalai and Nachimedumalai hill villages in Anaicut taluk have long been demanding a health sub-centre in the hills to for the local population to access in emergencies. A pucca road to the hills was also another long-pending demand. The importance of both demands was highlighted when two tribal women were forced to deliver their children on the road, due to rubble (jalli in local parlance) being dumped in heaps in the middle of the proposed carriageway blocking vehicles. 

While Pushpa (25) wife of Sarathkumar of Kurumalai developed labour pain, relatives immediately contacted the PHC at Usoor and requested an ambulance. The PHC staff immediately sent an ambulance which had to stop at the foothills due to the rubble-strewn path. On learning of the predicament, female relatives both carried and made Pushpa walk to e ambulance but as labour pain worsened, she delivered a male child on the road with the women’s help before she could reach the ambulance on Thursday. The same day, another woman identified as Chinnathai also delivered a male child. 

After delivery, attendants accompanying the women helped them reach the ambulance which rushed them to the PHC where both were said to be in good health. 

Villagers said the rubble had been offloaded nearly two months ago but work was yet to start. Officials seeking anonymity said work was delayed due to the pandemic and that it would be completed at the earliest.