This Tribal Girl Has Dared To Open A Medical Store In Maoist-Infested Area

Abujmarh is a hilly forest area in the state of Chhattisgarh which covers the districts of Narayanpur district, Bijapur and Dantewada. Counted amongst the most mysterious places in the world, this area is also a Maoist stronghold. The area which has seen the reign of Mughal and British rulers is still mapped only partially and not much is known about its inhabitants. In fact, its name itself means the land of the unknown. So you can imagine the guts of this 23-year-old tribal woman who has dared to open the first ever medical store in the region. Meet Kirta Dorpa, a woman of the Muria tribe of Chhattisgarh, whose shop in Narayanpur district’s Orcha is becoming a blessing for people who had no easy access to medicines and had to travel 70 km to buy them.

A Godsend For Tribes

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According to a report in TOI, the shutdown of a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in the buffer zone of the Indravati National Park was the reason behind Kirta’s initiative. She started asking local people about the kind of medicines they needed but opening the medical store in a remote area like this which is also prone to Maoist violence was not easy. The Orcha community health centre is not well-stocked all the time and Kirta has tied up with a pharmacist to provide a regular supply of medicines. Although Kirta is being applauded for her efforts, she has wholeheartedly thanked the local residents, local sarpanch and panchayat secretary for helping her with setting up the store.

Who Are The Muria Tribe?

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The adivasi Muria Tribe of Chhattisgarh is a part of the Gondi people. The name Muria comes from the word Mur meaning root or permanent which may be related to the fact that the tribe is not nomadic. There are five races amongst this scheduled tribe called the Baghvans (Tiger Race, Bodminkvans (Fish Race), Kacchimvans (Tortoise Race), Nagvans (Snake Race) and Bakravans (Goat Race).

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Each race is not allowed to eat the totem animal and are supposed to mourn if it dies. The Muria Tribe mostly lives in two tehsils of the north-central part of Bastar district i.e. the western Narayanpur Tehsil and eastern Kondagaon Tehsil. Working collectively is a priority for them and they also practice premarital sex. They marry late and the concept of dowry does not exist in marriages.

While we still live in an age where tribal and dalit women are raped and tortured by men of higher castes, stories of women like Kirta Dorpa are like a silver lining in a dark cloud. Her Zindagi salutes the spirit of such inspirational women who dare to go places. To know about more women who have broken barriers and open up your mind about gender equality, stay tuned.

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