The tribal-dominated district of Nandurbar in north west Maharashtra has experienced a nightmarish few weeks. Though the region was lauded for optimum use of medical oxygen cylinders, thanks to a model adopted by district collector Dr Rajendra Bharud, its case fatality rate (CFR) to COVID-19 went up from 1.67 per cent in the last week of April to 7.74 per cent by May 23. The average in the rest of the state during this time was just 2.17 per cent.

While reluctance to test for the SARS CoV-2 virus was said to be one of the reasons for late detection of cases, Nagsen Pendharkar, a teacher at New English School in Umarde Khurde village, feels that vaccine hesitancy is just as critical a cause. Soon after the vaccination drive was opened to the entire adult population in March, many tribals developed cold feet. “There were a few stray incidents, where people had fallen ill after getting the shot. Villagers claimed that some had even died. While we don’t know if this really happened, tribals, out of fear, refused to register for vaccination,” recalls Pendharkar.