As soon as TCF was set up in 1994, it was felt that an immediate Rural Medical Outreach Programme (RMOP) was necessary both as a humanitarian response and a trust building measure. TCF believes that healthy individuals alone can contribute to a healthy environment. Moreover, if the local communities are to be won over to the cause of conservation some reciprocal benefits would have to be provided to them. A small beginning was made by providing 50 select villages with a first-aid box along with the Hindi version of a very useful book: “Where There Is No Doctor”.
There are approximately 100 villages in the buffer zone of CTR and, currently, TCF covers about 50% through the RMOP. Consultations, treatment and medicines were distributed free of cost till the year 2000. However, since April 2001, TCF charges Rs. 10 per patient as a nominal donation towards conservation. This foresighted move was made with the objective of involving the villagers directly in the conservation work and to increase their sense of responsibility towards their health.
Twice a week an Outpatient Clinic is organised at the Foundation’s centers in Dhikuli and Rathuadhab. On the other days of the week, medical camps are held at different villages. A monthly schedule is maintained and adhered to, which also makes it easier for the nearby villagers to benefit from the facility. Along with the medical camps, regular health awareness campaigns are conducted at the villages. These include campaigns about drinking clean water, preventing water borne diseases, personal hygiene, mother and child healthcare, etc. TCF’s doctors also train medical health workers in villages in administering first aid.
