Man Vs Snake: A Poisonous Concoction Of Poverty & Regressive Practice In Rural Odisha

Manjula is nine years old, but her age belies the pain that she has been enduring for a month. After her story was reported by media, authorities intervened and she was brought to SCB Hospital in Cuttack on Wednesday. But doctors have said that her hand is decaying and paralysed.

Manjula was bitten by a Cobra snake a month back in her village in Balijhor under Raighar block of Nabarangpur district. Manjula was first taken to Umerkote community health centre in Nabarangpur and later to a hospital in Koraput by her father. The doctors advised that Manjula should be admitted to MKCG hospital in Berhampur for further treatment.

However, lack of money became a roadblock and the poor girl was left to suffer. And in the meantime, before the incident surfaced to public notice, the neurotoxin venom injected by the cobra had already caused massive damage. Her body tissues have been badly affected making one of her hands suffer decay. But there is another part to this story as well.

Here is the Cobra snake which had bitten Manjula. It has been held captive since then. The villagers are resolved that they will not let the snake free till the time Manjul has fully recovered. As Manjula has not taken proper food, the snake has also not been fed.