The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi, has directed the district Collectors of Nuapada and Balangir districts to conduct an inquiry into the matter of torture of newborn babies due to a superstition called “Kalachhir”.
Kalachhir here means black vein. When the veins in the body of a child are prominently visible, the villagers feel that the child is severely ill and cannot be treated by doctors. Thus the child is taken to the quacks for administration of Kalachhir therapy. The body of a child is marked with hot iron stick or broken bangles. Children undergo sever torture due to this inhuman practice.
The NCPCR, being apprised of the inhuman practice by this correspondent in 2014, had requested the two Collectors earlier on July 4 last and subsequently on August 16 to conduct inquiry in to the matter and submit Action Taken Report. But, as the Collectors did not respond, the commission now has given a 10-da y ultimatum.
A study conducted in six Gram Panchayats of Nuapada district by this correspondent for NGOs ASHA ODISHA and Save the Children in 2014, had revealed that, the practice is highly prevalent in the rural areas and about 12 per cent of the total deaths have occurred after administration of Kalachhir therapy by quacks. The district administration had taken some efforts like sensitization of Anganwadi workers and ASHAs at that time, who were supposed to create awareness within the local people. But, efforts did not take root at ground level and the practice run clandestinely till today with the knowledge of the field level workers of Health and ICDS department.