As part of the age-old custom prevailing in India, the practice of branding kids in the supposed belief that it will cure them from their ailments, a two and a half year old girl child was branded twelve times on her abdomen in the remote Vagad village of Kutch District.
Kusum Koli, who was suffering from celebral malaria with septicemia, was branded twelve times on her abdomen by her parents on January 12 to cure the child of their diseases. However, the child's condition worsened and subsequently she fell unconscious and was brought to Gandhidham.
Dr. Rajesh Jeswani, a pediatrician based in Gandhidham, who treated the child said that the little girl was branded twelve times with hot iron on her lowest chest and upper part of the abdomen.
Jeswani of Masoom Children's Hospital said that the girl was unconscious and had a fever. She regained her consciousness after 48 hours of treatment. Her parents, who are saltpan workers, had branded her thinking that it will cure the disease.
Jeswani informed that the practice of branding sick children with iron rods, nails etc on abdomen, forehead, neck to cure them of diseases like malaria and pneumonia was rampant in rural areas of Kutch. Jeswani informed that at least five such cases are reported every month.
National Human Rights Commission had taken suo moto cognizance of a recent media report alleging that children in Vagad area of Kutch District and some parts of Rajkot district in Gujarat had been branded with iron rods, heated nails, wires etc in the belief that it will help them to cure their diseases. And most of the victims are children in the age gropu of 0-15 years.
The Commission observed that it raised a serious issue of violation of human rights of children, and had issued a notice to Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, calling for a report on the matter.
Reported by
AR
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