Life After Encephalitis, A Ground Report From Gorakhpur, UP

What Next For An Encephalitis-Free Gorakhpur

Dear reader,

For families in eastern UP, encephalitis was once an annual crisis. But things have changed, and seemingly for good. The state has now almost completely wiped out deaths from this deadly virus.

However, for children who survived, like Sushmita and Rinki in Gorakhpur to whom Swarajya's senior reporter Ankit spoke to this week, life hasn’t really returned to normal, yet. They survived the virus, yes. But they also continue to live with disabilities that came along and never left—and now, they need someone all the time, to make it through every single day.

In our ground report from Gorakhpur, we take a closer look into the next step in UP’s battle against encephalitis. That is, addressing the lasting impacts on survivors. We’ve spoken to families, doctors, and activists to see how, despite progress, the needs of these children are often left unaddressed.

You see, dear reader, it’s our mission, at Swarajya, to cover more and more stories that aren’t just breaking news but part of a bigger picture, stories that matter long after the headlines fade.

And when you subscribe to Swarajya, you are supporting in-depth, on-the-ground reporting that gives voice to stories like Sushmita’s -- keeping our unflinched attention on issues that still need action.

Talk soon,

Raghu Ravi