Bruce and Ann Peck left India just before the lock down of Kodaikanal borders in early March of this year. This is Selvam and Sheela’s story shared with Ann over the phone each Saturday morning as the pandemic changes life for everyone, young and old. What is it like living in their shoes?

One-year old Harini Sri watches Selvam install her new improved cookstove. She is one of ten families who were fortunate to receive this life changing addition to their homes during the June opening of the government imposed lockdown.

Selvam gives out masks made by his neighborhood tailor to people in remote villages where he installs cookstoves. His safety and that of the people he serves depends on these masks and the information Sheela shares with the local women about how to stay safe. Adapting to new changes is survival.

After weeks of transportation shutdown, buses were given government permission to start running again on a very limited scale. The influx of people coming up the mountain brought a spike in new cases to Kodaikanal where there had been very few. Kids Health India donated blankets, masks and utensils to a local hospital until emergency supplies could be requisitioned.

After the influx in cases, road blocks again stopped traffic with police support to prevent people from moving between village hamlets from one neighborhood to another. The corona virus depicted as a horned devil is painted in traditional “kolam” style on the pavement to warn people of the health crisis in their town.

During the lockdown periods only people seeking hospital care or medicines are permitted to go into town with a “scheduled” token from the nearest check post. All shops are closed and there is no weekly Sunday market. Sheela buys vegetables from a young boy managing the “store on wheels.” Only lorry drivers carrying food from the plains could pass through the check posts. These frontline workers risk their own health to supply food for their communities.