Malkangiri: In another case of branding, a one-year-old baby girl was branded by a quack here at Maranapalli village under Kalimela police limits in Malkangiri district. The victim was identified as Liza Madkami, daughter of Rama Madkami.
Sources said, Liza had acute pain in her stomach. Her parents took her to Kalimela primary hospital and later shifted her to district headquarters hospital.
She was discharged from hospital after treatment. But when she went back home her pain resumed. Later, she was taken by her parents to a quack at MPV-23 village. The quack advised them to brand the baby. Her parents agreed with the quack and permitted him to brand their baby. Later, the quack branded the baby with a hot iron three times. But her condition worsened when she came back home.
The matter came to light, when the baby was rushed to district headquarters hospital again by her parents where she is undergoing treatment.
The baby is suspected to have a tumor in her kidney. She will be shifted to Berhampur’s MKCG Medical College and Hospital for higher treatment, said Santosh Kumar Mishra from the district headquarters’ hospital.
Despite various measures to build up people’s awareness on superstitions, tribals in this backward district believe in superstition and practice branding. They think branding can cure a patient of ailments. Many a time, babies fall victim to evil practices.
Though leaders of the area counsel them to avoid such practices, they avoid such suggestions. The government spends a lot of funds to create awareness and educate people. However, they have proved completely ineffective to prevent such practices. PNN
