Karnataka village panchayat turns role model for achieving 100% COVID-19 vaccination

Tinthani village panchayat in Karnataka's Yadgir district has been declared as the first village panchayat in the state to achieve 100 percent COVID-19 vaccination. All 4,200 eligible persons have been vaccinated within its limits in an all-out effort.

Yadgir district is considered one of the most backward districts in Karnataka. However, the district administration was able to achieve what the authorities of most developed regions, including the surrounding district of Bengaluru, could not achieve.

The district administration is preparing to announce one more village panchayat shortly and many more are working with rapid speed and motivation. The carrying out of the vaccination program is being seen as a matter of pride for local leaders and government officials concerned.

Yadgir is highly under-developed and the literacy rate is also very low. There were misconceptions about side effects, long-term damage regarding the vaccination as resistance to vaccination was very high. It was then that the District Commissioner, R. Raagapriya, decided to have one inspirational gram panchayat to motivate others to come forward for the vaccination program.

Tinthani village panchayat was selected and all revenue authorities and tehsildars were sent along with the health department staff. With door-to-door campaigns, 95 percent of the people were vaccinated. Outreach programs were held to reach out to the people. The staff who were vaccinated already could deal with misconceptions citing their example.

Raagapriya told IANS that with continuous review and motivation the objective of vaccination was achieved. "Most of the government officials do not need monetary benefits, they want recognition from the top. We recognized their efforts by giving certificates and facilitating them. After the success in the Tinthani gram panchayat, all other panchayats in three taluks of the Yadgir district are motivated for the effective implementation of the vaccination program. We are planning to achieve 100 percent vaccination in the entire district before the emergence of the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic," she said.