Attabira: It is around 9 am and a couple with a baby reaches the Bishipali village of Deshbhatli Panchayat in Bheden block of Bargarh district on a bike, with some cotton bags on either side of the vehicle.
After reaching the village, they choose a place and the husband spreads out a polythene sheet and places roots, herbs and nuts of different shapes and colours. The villagers, who watch the couple, realise that the man sells Ayurvedic medicines.
Bdo Sabar, 26, is a resident of Pipalpali village of Bhimpur Panchayat of Paikamal block in Bargarh district. Sabar says preparing Ayurvedic medicines is his family’s hereditary occupation.
“I have no formal education. But I can identify medicinal plants. I acquired knowledge of roots and herbs from my forefathers and it helps me earn a living. My wife and I go to Nrusinghanath jungle to collect herbs, leaves, fruits, nuts and roots. We prepare medicines by mixing them in right proportions. Some of the medicines are powdered, while others are semi-liquid or are ointments. We sell them at markets and in villages,” said Sabar.
Asked about his wife, he says she used to sell medicines going around the village. His wife, Likha, with her baby clinging to her chest, goes around selling medicines after asking people about their medical problems.
Sabar said that once they leave home, they return only after two months. “These days we are staying at Deogaon in Sambalpur district. From there we will go to other areas.”
“Our honesty and friendly approach gets us customers. Our customers remain with us for years,” Likha said.
Sabar’s customers are mostly patients suffering from stomach disorders, piles, asthma, rheumatism and other ailments.
When asked about his charges, Sabar says he takes a minimum of Rs 60 and a maximum of Rs 600 from patients, depending on the kind of medicines.
“If a patient happens to be poor, I leave it to him or her. Sometimes I ask them to pay me only if they get cured. When someone comes and says that our medicines worked well it gives me immense pleasure,” he added.
PNN