BASTAR, India, July 15 (Xinhua) -- In the mountains of Abujmarh, in the districts of Narainpur, Bijapur and Dantewara live the Maria tribals of Bastar origin. This 3,900-square-kilometer tract of closed region shelters about 6,000 people in some 190 villages.
However, the tribal-dominated region is at risk of AIDS prevalence due to poor awareness and backwardness.
It may further snowball into tuberculosis-HIV co-infection. No surprise, TB still causes most deaths in Chhattisgarh.
It is more so because Chhattisgarh shares its geographical borders with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Orrisa, which are high AIDS prevalence states.
The jungle here is rich in medicinal plants and herbs, but the medicines made from these never reach the inhabitants of the jungle -- the tribals. The inhabitants of the jungle is not part of the market because they have no money.
If the ailing people do not have money, their only cure is death.
"The local administration is not concerned with human life; it is there to sell contracts -- contracts for exploiting jungles, for mining, building roads and hospitals," said S.K. Sagar, a teacher in a nearby village.
