To control malaria in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra’s worst-affected rural district, the government has started incentivising tribal communities to get tested for the disease and encouraging traditional healers to refer suspected cases to the formal healthcare system.
Under the scheme, a tribal family will get ₹500 if a family member with fever approaches the health system and tests positive for malaria. Similarly, a traditional healer, or vaidu, who refers a patient who subsequently tests positive will receive ₹200.
“We hope that this will lead to early testing and early treatment of malaria. This is the first time such an incentive is being provided for malaria in India,” said Dr. Abhay Bang, who heads the Malaria Control Task Force appointed by the Maharashtra government.
Gadchiroli is Maharashtra’s worst-affected rural district for malaria and is recognised nationally as a high-endemic tribal hotspot. Forest malaria in this region is particularly challenging. About 70% of the land in Gadchiroli is covered by dense forests, which are traditionally inhabited by the tribals.
Between January 1 and August 15, 3,004 malaria cases were reported from Gadchiroli, of which 1,680 were reported in July alone.
“This is the same strategy of community involvement used to fight smallpox in India in the 1970s. The government had then offered cash prizes for anyone who showed a smallpox patient,” Dr. Bang said.
He said that while the district has 1% of Maharashtra’s population, it contributes to 33% of the State’s malaria cases.
“The burden is disproportionately high here. There are several factors responsible for it. First, the environmental factors, because Gadchiroli is mostly dense forest. Secondly, the tribal culture, which is not yet open to modern healthcare. There are behavioural challenges. Also, because these areas were affected by Maoism for a long time, the healthcare system has traditionally been poor in the district. To compound that, we have found that mosquitoes have started building resistance to insecticides which are sprayed in villages,” he said.
According to an order issued by the Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad health department on June 24, a pujari or vaidu, who is typically approached first by the tribal families whenever someone falls ill, will receive a cash incentive of ₹200 for every case in which they refer a patient who tests positive through a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) to an ASHA worker or the nearest primary health centre.
The government has started an awareness campaign about the drive. Moreover, tribal people who approach the health department directly for testing when they have fever will get ₹500 if they test positive for malaria.
Speaking about Gadchiroli, District Health Officer Dr. Pratap Shinde said the situation in the district is different from that in other parts of the State. “Our focus is to drive behavioural change among the tribals so they approach the health system and avail early treatment. So we undertake IEC (information, education, communication) activities in tribal schools every Monday. We also set up health booths during the weekly bazaar days in different parts of the district. RDT kits have been distributed widely,” he said.
Published – August 23, 2026 10:38 pm IST
