Dist. Administration gears up to prevent branding in Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur: BASANT RATH. 

Despite significant advancement in medical science, people believe in superstition to get rid of health complications and diseases. This practice of traditional branding or inflicting burns over the body as a remedy for illnesses such is a harmful practice prevalent in the district. Children and young babies are worst affected by this practice, which causes serious ill health and delays in seeking proper medical care. The child is taken to a local traditional healer who administers the brand mark on different parts of the body based on where he thinks is the place where the disease lurks. The most commonly used instrument is the tip of a hot metal rod. Other objects like heated nails, wires, incense sticks and hot bangles can also be used to brand the child. The children usually belong to a poor illiterate rural family where branding is a continuing tradition prevalent through many generations 

In a nod to prevent branding the district administration  will launch start Jyoti Campaign from 28^th Feb in the blocks and village level said collector Ms.Rashmita Panda, we selected some of master trainers who will educate at block levels and village levels  on the evils of branding and how to benefit from health services. Three A’s are the key role in the village the Anganwadi, Asha, ANM, they are the most powerful women’s at their village when they tell the evils of branding the people could be easily understand’ correspondingly we identified 4033 disari’s they are also trained not to do the traditional practice branding is a type of child abuse and should be condemned by the society. Every measure should be taken to educate the rural families against this inhuman medieval custom Ms.Panda added.

Though people go for branding, there is no scientific basis for 

getting cured. “It is blind belief. Branding a human being with hot 

iron rod may lead to serious health complications and one may 

develop septicaemia.  People should desist from such practice for 

curing diseases said Manorama Majhi, master trainer of the 

campaign. 

Two infants branded by witch doctor admitted at Nabarangpur.

There seems to be no end to branding infants with red hot iron and heated metal bangle in tribal dominated Nabarangpur district.  In the third case in this month a 24-day old newborn from Ghodakhunta village under Dabugam block was admitted to the district headquarters hospital here on Wednesday in a critical condition following complication after branding by the quack with pieces of a heated metal bangle. The injured infant girl is undergoing treatment at the Special Newborn care unit of district headquarters hospital her condition is stable and according to paediatrician Dharani Ranjan Satpathy, all efforts are being made to save her.

In another incident a 33-day old newborn from Pujariguda  under Kosagumuda block was admitted to the district headquarters hospital here on Feb 23 in a critical condition following complications after branding. The parents of the child Padlam Harijan and Laxmi Harijan, said grandfather had called a quack to their house after the infant stopped taking food. In an attempt to cure here ailment, she was branded on several parts of her body by him.  "The child is suffering from pneumonia for which she is facing problems in breathing. Her condition has deteriorated due to the branding. She is under observation, at the SNCU" said child specialist Dharani Ranjan Satpathy, at Nabarangpur hospital.

On February 22, an eight-month-old baby of Madhubhatta village under Raighar block  died due to superstitious treatment.  Father of the boy Rama Gond, applied poisonous cashew sap oh his body to cure ailment, died during treatment at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital. The minor was suffering from chest congestion. After bring branded on Friday night, his condition deteriorated. The baby was admitted to Umerkote Community Health Centre (CHC) in a critical condition and then shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Similarly, a 15-day old girl of Goramba village under Jharigam block died at hospital on January 24 after she was branded to cure her of breathing problems in the past eight weeks, many children in the district has been admitted to different hospitals in a serious condition after being branded to cure their ailments. Some of them have died.

The incidents highlighted the fact that despite arrest of five ‘desari’ or tribal witch doctors in the district, who were involved in torture of newborns and infants, similar incidents continue to take place in the area.During the past three months  several cases of torture on newborns and infants by tribal witch doctors due to superstitious belief has come to fore in this district.

In the meanwhile the administration would soon launch a panchayat-level awareness programme from February 28 in Nabarangpur district to educate these traditional ‘desaris’ on the harmful effects of branding infants. We have collected the names of most of the traditional healers and will educate them along with healthcare and anganwadi workers said Rashmita Panda, Collector Nabarangpur.

Odisha Nari Surakhya Mancha extended support to the dalit couple.

Nabarangpur: BASANT RATH, Reporter.

The Odisha Nari Surakhya Mancha, extended support to a dalit couple of Janiguda, under Papadahandi Police limit who are facing Social boycott at the village. The Villagers have attacked the dalit family and set ablaze house in the year 2012, after the incident the couple met the collector  and as per the direction of collector BDO Papadahandi. issued work order of Indira awas (IAY) in the year 2013 to Sunadei Harijan,(62) wife of Bali Harijan (70) a resident of Janiguda Under Papadahandi Block, now the villagers threatening & obstructing the construction of IAY.

The fear-stricken dalit couple taking shelter in a Shop. Meanwhile the dalit couple meets the Collector, Sub-collector, BDO & Tahasildar Papadahandi, local political leaders no action has been taken to redress the grievances of the Dalit couple. After highlighted the plight  the Odisha Nari Surakhya Mancha,  headed by its president Sasmita Das, with delegates Raja Laxmi Rout,Dolly Lanka, Swagitika Patjoshi, adviser Bijaya Yadab,meets commerce & transport minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, along with  Supt of police B Jugal Kishor Kumar, discussed the issue to redress the grievances of the dalit. 

As per the direction of SP Jugal Kishor, the Mancha lodged complaint before the Papadahandi police station. The IIC with staff rushed to Janiguda village to sort out the long standing problem of the dalit couple. Tahasildar Albert Lakra also present during the demarcation and settlement land.