A tribal woman and her newborn baby had to be carried in a makeshift ‘doli’ (stretcher) for 6 km to reach a medical centre after she had given birth to her baby at home in the village of Arla, Anakapalli district in the state of AP.
Due to lack of proper roads, the 29-year-old woman Korra Devi could not be carried to the hospital on Wednesday night, when she developed labor pains. She gave birth to her baby at home.
As the sun came up on Thursday morning, Korra Ramesh, her husband and relatives carried her to a medical center that was 6 km away. They booked a private vehicle to reach Butchimpeta Primary Healthcare Center for post-delivery care.
Residents of Arla village in Rolugunta mandal, a tribal area, have been demanding roads for a long time and funds for the road were allocated in National Employment Guarantee Scheme in 2022 but rains washed away parts of the road and the project remained incomplete.
Tribal leaders on a local level urged authorities to take action. Korra Ramesh told the media that they need roads and not promises. The situation must change, he said.
