Minor branded with iron to cure illness

Keonjhar: Branding a child with hot iron with a blind belief to cure them of their illness continues in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. As many as five children in the district have become victims of such barbaric practices in the last four days.

In the fresh case reported on Saturday from Reba village under Bansapal block, a 10-year-old girl was branded with hot iron rod by family out of superstition.

According to reports, the family members of the victim, who was suffering from stomach related ailment, branded her with hot iron rod five days ago instead of taking her to a hospital for treatment.

After her condition deteriorated due to branding, the family admitted her to the hospital under critical condition.

The condition of the girl was stated to be stable.

Few days ago, four children were branded with hot iron rod just in two days in the tribal dominated district. Reports said most victims belonged to poor tribal families. Their parents did not take them to hospital saying they did not have money to meet the medical expenses.

When told that they could avail free medical facilities by producing BPL (Below Poverty Line) card, many of them said they had not obtained it, raising doubts about the district administration’s sincerity to reach out to all the poor people.

When contacted, Keonjhar chief district medical officer Kibindra Sahoo said massive awareness campaign was being undertaken in tribal pockets to dissuade people from practicing child branding.