Patalkot in Chhindwara

Friends, in last 4 weeks I toured 109 villages in 5 districts of MP. Out of them was Chhindwara district where we have 22 Seva Kutirs in Tamia block. There is a region called Patalkot which has Bharia tribal population. The Patalkot area as the name indicates is 1700 feet below the surface level elevation of its surroundings. Surrounded by a plateau formed by the Satpura ranges one has to descend thousands of steps to reach these hamlets, about 12 in number. There are villages where one gets sunlight and the sight of the sun for limited number of hours. The Bharias engage in collecting forest herbs (jadi-booti) of medicinal value and sell in markets outside (often to middlemen). There is hardly any farming activity possible. They climb up once in a week to visit the nearest village market of Chhindi. Children have to walk tens of kilometres to attend a high school and spent 4-5 hours ascending 1700 feet. The ailing are brought up in palanquins (paalkis) to be taken to a doctor. A basic road which meanders its way through the hills has been constructed now, but the government ambulance, as is usually the case across then share, reaches only for cases of delivery. The region because of the sheer difficulty of access has a very hard life for its denizens. We have already set our Seva Kutirs in 3 villages and will cover all villages in all the villages of Patalkot. We also intend to keep an ambulance for the area. Our sevavratees have set up all these seva kutirs using motorcycles (we did not have any four wheelers in our districts). It marvels me as to how they are able to work with such minimal facilities. After my visit to Chhindwara we decided to send a Thar jeep to them. Attaching pictures of my recent 4 week field travel in these 5 districts.