About three decades ago, one Ananta Narayan Beura of Kulailo village under Athagarh block was providing ayurvedic treatment to patients with bone fractures.
He had earned a name for the treatment which he did at low cost. He applied a paste of some medicinal plants, their leaves and roots to the injury place and bound it with bamboo sticks and cotton. Because of his fame, patients made a beeline for his clinic.
However, after Ananta’s death, his son, who is in Government service, has opened a clinic by portraying him as a Vaidya. He claims to have learnt the art of treatment from his father.
The difference between Ananta and his son is that while the former was doing a sort of social service, the latter without proven expertise in orthopaedic treatment has converted the venture to a business hub. He is making huge money by exploiting the patients using the reputation of his father under the very nose of the administration. He has built a school and several temples adjacent to his clinic and collecting contributions from patients of rich section as well.
He has engaged his sons as the managing director and sales promoter in the hospital. A patient has to purchase at least a five-meter cloth and several other items for binding purpose. Here the clinic has over 100 beds and several halls. It is alleged that the man has enhanced his property to over `50 crore within a period of 20 years and has spent his money in several business firms including in film making.
This apart, the employees who have learnt the art of binding the fractured bones here have set up their own clinics ( Maa Kalapat, Maa Bauti, Bir Hanuman, Bajrangbali Asthi Chikitsa Seva Sadan and others) in Kulailo and Gundichapur areas and are attracting the patients. One Gandu of Gundichapur village whose educational qualification is primary standard has developed a clinic where scores of patients gather each day for treatment.
As per sources, the orthopaedic patients are deceived by the fraud doctors who have neither required qualification nor skill. Most of the patients who have treated here ended up in aggravating their problems. Either their joint bones go straight or straight bones turn curves while pain persists. When the victim patients reach the orthopaedic doctors at the SCB MCH at Cuttack or see any other specialists, they scold these patients for their ignorance of going to Kulailo for treatment.
However, these Vaidyas have links with high level bureaucrats and politicians. Minister Devi Mishra, Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahatab, local MlA Ranendra Pratap Swain, Rajya Sabha Member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, former Urban Development Minister KV Singh Deo, top level bureaucrats, media house owners and other influential persons have come to these clinics on different occasions to promote their prospects.