HEALTH FACILITIES AMONG THARUS OF WEST CHAMPARAN

HEALTH FACILITIES

 AMONG

 THARUS OF WEST CHAMPARAN

(All the images are subject to IPR)

The health facilities have always been far from satisfactory throughout the country. Even in the national capital  Delhi we regularly read or watch the reports in media about the pathetic condition of hospitals mostly overpowered by big mafia.

 

Then what could be situation in the backward region Tharuhat of backward district West Champaran of Bihar? 

Tharu Tribes of West Chmaparan have always been very neglected or ignored community. Till the end of 20th century there were no basic health facilities available in the region. The poor people have to either foot the distance for miles together or arrange a bullock cart and carry the patient to a  nearby hospital. There was no proper road, no proper transport, no electricity, no telephone not even all weather bridge on rivers. During rainy season the villages of Tharuhat usually would turn into an island.

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Primary Health Centre in Bakhari Bazar in Ramnagar Block of Tharuhat
Image(C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

There was a health centre just for name in Bakhari Bazar village on Ramnagar - Gobardhana road. Doctors, if posted there, would visit the centre as per their whims and hardly did they stay in the night. The simple & innocent Tharus were in deep difficulty even  for basic facility such as delivery of a child. 

An ambulance in PHC Bakhari Bazar
Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

But during the first decade of 21st century the situation has remarkably changed. We can see a comparatively maintained Primary Health Centre near Bakhari Bazar crossing with an ambulance facility. Most importantly Doctors have become available for the people of the area. 

Medicine Centre in Bakhari Bazar run by a Tharu Ramchandra Khatait
Image ( C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

There is Usha Medicine Centre run by a Tharu Ramchandra Khatait who has graduated from M. J. K College Bettiah. I have been watching this medicine shop since later half of eighties of 20th century when I first visited this village for my field work. At that time there was hardly a good shop, area inhospitable and dangerous as infested by  Dacoits and that is why known to be "Mini Chambal . Later  Lal Salam Maoists also became active in Tharuhat.