Why Did a Pregnant Tribal Woman Go Missing in Tamil Nadu?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Pregnant tribal woman missing in Tamil Nadu.
- Refused hospital admission for delivery.
- Health officials filed a police complaint.
- Family remains uncooperative about her location.
- Need for awareness programs in tribal areas highlighted.
Chennai, July 15 (NationPress) A 25-year-old expectant tribal woman from Solagar Dhoddi in the Thalavadi Hills of Erode district, Tamil Nadu, has gone missing after declining hospital admission for her delivery, leading health officials to file a police report for assistance in locating her.
The woman, Shevanthi, married to Chandran, was supposed to be transported to the Thalavadi Government Upgraded Primary Health Centre (PHC) for her institutional delivery on July 7. However, when healthcare workers arrived at her home in Solagar Dhoddi to escort her, both she and her family were nowhere to be found.
Initially, the family was in contact with the staff at the Government PHC in Bynapuram and had agreed to cooperate. But shortly after, their mobile phones were turned off, and they became unreachable.
Despite multiple visits from health officials, including Village Health Nurse P. Jothi, no valuable information surfaced. During a follow-up visit on Monday, a family member responded vaguely, saying, “Shevanthi is fine, but we do not know her whereabouts.”
Health officials had guaranteed the family that Shevanthi would only be taken to the local government health center, with complete transportation and medical support to ensure the safety of both mother and child.
Even with these reassurances, the family remained uncooperative and hesitant to disclose her location. With no further leads and ongoing resistance, the health team lodged a formal complaint with the Thalavadi police.
Police officers visited the woman's residence and commenced inquiries. Sources confirmed that efforts are being made to trace the mobile phones of family members and gather other potential leads to find the missing woman.
S. Kannaiyan, president of the Thalavadi Farmers’ Federation, commended the dedication of health officials and emphasized the importance of awareness programs in tribal areas to dispel misconceptions surrounding institutional deliveries.
“There is significant fear and misunderstanding about hospital deliveries in these communities. Awareness is essential for ensuring the safety of mothers and newborns,” he stated.
Police and health officials continue their search, expressing grave concern for the health and well-being of both the mother and her unborn child.