The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been requested to direct the Odisha Government to eradicate the superstitious practice of hot iron branding treatment and compensate the victims.

The NHRC has been monitoring a case filed by activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, who alleged that newly born infants and their mothers were subjected to hot iron treatments in the name of healing ailments in Nabarangpur and other districts of Odisha. As a result the victims suffer serious injuries and often die. Tripathy sought intervention of the NHRC to ensure right to health in remote areas of the State where such practices are rampantly prevalent.

Pursuant to the directions of the commission, a report of the SDPO, Boriguma, Koraput which revealed that one Bati Harijan (18) daughter of Girdhari Harijan of Canal Sahi delivered a male child on December 15, 2015.

After a few days of his birth, the child became ill so Bati Harijan went to the house of her parents. In that village, one Hiramani, Harijan aged 70 years who was working as a quack and used to treat small kids in traditional methods by means of using hot iron. When Bati Harijan took her child to the house of Hiramani, she had branded the belly of the infant at three to four places with a hot iron rod.

After treatment, Bati Harijan came back to her village. In the meantime, the said Hiramani Harijan who administered the hot iron on the belly of the child had expired. On January 8, 2016, the baby again suffered from fever and he was taken to CHC, Boriguma for treatment by his parents. The Medical Officer of CHC, Boriguma found some wound on the belly of the baby and he immediately referred the child to SD Hospital, Jaipur for better treatment. The baby underwent treatment at the said hospital and then discharged on January 14, 2016.

The Medical Officer did not intimate the local police regarding admission of the child branded with hot iron. According to the report except this incident, there were no other information available regarding similar incidents.

 A report dated 20.3.2016 was received from the SDPO, Umarkote in which it was intimated that one Bindu Kallar under the Umarkote police station , district Nabarangpur reported that on January 10, 2016, he was blessed with a girl child at the Umarkote CHC. As she became ill on January 17, 2016, he along with some local villagers took his daughter to one Sukmati Kallar, wife of Govind Kallar of village Siunaguda for local treatment.

Sukmati gave shock treatment with heat glass bangle pieces on the belly of the child as a result the child became seriously ill. Then he took her to  Umarkote CHC and subsequently to Nabrangpur Hospital for better treatment.

On January 24, 2016 night, his daughter died at Nabrangpur Hospital. On this report, the IIC, Umarkote registered PS Case No 33 dated 25.1.2016 under Sections 324/285/304 IPC r/w Section 23 JJ Act and investigation was taken up which was under progress.

The Commission carefully considered the contents of the reports. A copy of each of the reports was transmitted to the Odisha Chief Secretary for his examination and necessary action to prevent such incidents in future. He was asked to submit an action taken report. In response to the same, a report dated 26.3.2018 was received from the Home Department Special Secretary.

After investigation in Umarkote PS case No. 33/2016 u/s 324/285/304 IPC r/w section 23 of JJ Act the IO submitted chargesheet in the court vide No 112 dated 20.4.2016 against the accused.

The parents of the deceased child were provided with different social welfare benefits including financial assistance. It was intimated that Nabarangpur district administration started a massive awareness campaign namely ‘Campaign Jyoti’ to make people aware about harmful effects of cauterization through ASHAs, ANMs and Anganwadi workers. Posters, banners and booklets were widely circulated to make the campaign successful. In his rejoinder Tripathy stated that the report admits that the baby was treated with hot iron rods. The report further admits prevalence of superstition in the area. Tripathy requested the NHRC to direct the State to ensure payment of compensation to the next of kin of the deceased victims and injured ones and ensure massive campaign against the practice of horrible practice of branding by hot iron rod through health officials and of the Women and Child Welfare Development.