Nabarangpur: Despite awareness against superstition, 22 children in the district were branded with hot sickles and rods in an attempt to raise their digestive capacity in Papdahandi block of Nabarangpur district, a report said Saturday.
Most of the children were aged between two and 10 years. The incident took place at Bhimasahi and Khadarasahi even as health workers, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers have been creating health awareness pertaining to mothers and children.
At least 14 branded children belong to a single family. The kids who were subjected to branding by their family members included Payal Patra, Chandan Patra, Sagar Sahu, Lambadar Sahu, Arun Sahu, Labali Sahu, Risan Sahu, Seshadev Sahu, Sriya Sahu, Sridhar Sahu, Smruti Sahu, Manasi Sahu, Asha Sahu, Ashish Sahu, Purosttom Sahu, Kanhei Sahu and Radhakant Sahu. According to sources, the families did not disclose the branding incidents to the Anganwadi workers.
Kadand Sahu, a resident claimed, “I have 14 grandchildren. All of them were branded. We believe that children who are branded on Chitau Amavasya Day (It is August 11 this year as per Hindu almanac) will be strong and their digestive capacity will grow in the rainy season. Though ASHAs and Anganwadi workers prohibit the practice, we have been following our tradition.”
Disari (a traditional healer) Kalpana Majhi, health worker Krishna Samal, Anganwadi worker Chandrama Moharana and ASHA Hemlata Majhi immediately visited the houses and noted down the names of branded kids.
The Anganwadis, the health workers and ASHA have termed the incident as “unfortunate”. Despite their effort and awareness programmes against such practice, people have been subjecting their infants to branding, they lamented. When contacted, Disari Kalpana Majhi said she had been branding kids, but has given up the practice for two years after being made aware of its adverse impact. On a tip-off, Anganwadi workers from Papadahandi reached the village and helped rescue at least 50 children from being branded.
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