Telkoi: Even as healthcare is in shambles in remote tribal pockets of Keonjhar district, branding has been a common practice for treating illness in children.
Such an incident was reported from Tangiripatraphadi in Bimla panchayat under Telkoi block in the district Saturday.
Three children belonging to the Juanga tribe – a 28-day-old, two-month-old Arun Juannga and 5-month-old Bharati Junaga– were branded to cure fever. The condition of the 28-day-old baby was stated critical. When a local ASHA came to know of it, she admitted the kid to the Telkoi health centre.
The other children were not taken to hospital for treatment, it was learnt.
Village head Gurubaria Juanga said branding is practiced when children suffer from fever and stomachache.
ASHA Hemalata Mohant said that the tribals are being made aware of the ill effects of branding, but they refuse to give up the traditional practice.
Superstitious perception and low awareness are major reasons for tribals resorting to branding in remote and tribal-dominated pockets. Such cases have been happening in the district despite awareness programmes being conducted by the administration.
Orissa Post had published a report January 17 about the branding of over 50 children at Rugudi Mundasahi in Baradapal panchayat, 15 km away from the district headquarters. The children were branded during the Makar Mela.
PNN
