COVID VACCINATION DRIVE FOR BAKARWALS OF MACHHAL TEHSIL

Srinagar, 19 August 2021. Indian Army in coordination with the Health Department,
Kupwara carried out a vaccination drive for Bakarwals located at the remote belt of
Machhal Tehsil. The Bakarwals were requesting for Covid-19 Vaccination & veterinary
assistance for their animals for some time. Indian Army in it’s outreach efforts, reached
out to the local health authorities, to address this concern. As a result of which, a total
of 50 Bakkarwals including ladies were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19
vaccines.
Bakarwals are goat herders and shepherds at large and seasonally migrate from
one place to another with their herds. As a nomadic tribe, they are spread over a large
part of UT of Jammu & Kashmir. This year, 328 Dheras have migrated to the areas
ahead of Shamshabhari Ranges at Machhal Tehsil, and have been grazing their flocks
at these remote locations. They take abodes in areas which are quite far from the
nearest road heads, thereby making it difficult to provide the necessary assistance.
Indian Army took the initiative to reach out to these areas and get them vaccinated
alongwith local health department.
Dr Javed Ahmed, Nodal Officer for Covid-19 vaccination in Kupwara district was
also present for the drive. Army authorities undertook patrols to reach out to the remote
areas to inform the Bakarwals of this vaccination drive and brought them to the nearest
roadhead. People were very happy and grateful to both the Army and Health
Department for reaching out to them and providing them the much needed vaccination
assistance at the time of the pandemic.