Madhya Pradesh recommending Aids patients to have spiritual care of Baba Shree Nirvikar Path

Hindustan Times, August 21, 2004 | Editorial

A mumbo jumbo cabinet
August 20

Miracle cures are subjects of fantasy. But when the Madhya Pradesh State Aids Control Society starts promoting the cause of quacks, a nightmare scenario seems to be unfolding. At a time when modern medicine is taking leaps and bounds and several possible vaccines for Aids are in the human trial stage, Uma Bharti’s government is busy recommending patients to one Baba Shree Nirvikar Path, who claims to have a spiritual cure for Aids. This is reminiscent of Sanjay Paswan, an ex-minister in the NDA government, who championed the cause of ojhas (exorcists). Who said the Dark Ages were over?

The state’s hand in the proliferation of quacks is three-fold. First, it simply has not done enough to improve health facilities in rural areas, let alone the pathetic state of urban health centres. While clinics, where they exist, are poorly maintained and offer questionable services, in some areas, people have no choice but to travel many miles to reach the nearest hospital. Second, in many cases, those wielding power have a vested interest in promoting such activities. In Uttaranchal, for instance, a recent raid on the flourishing Neeraj Clinic, which offered banned drugs as a sure-fire remedy against epilepsy, has opened a can of worms, with some ministers in the state government suspected of patronising the illegal clinic.

Third, in a country like India there is need for awareness programmes against irrational and superstitious beliefs if health standards have to improve. But now, it seems, such a plan will have to target those who head governments themselves.