Name : Shatadal Ghorai and Narugopal Ghorai (Community representatives)
District & State : Midnapur, West Bengal
Category : Herbal products
Award : National
Award Function : 8th National Grassroots Innovation Awards
Award Year : 2015
Innovator Profile
Innovation Description
Scout: Direct
Respiratory distress is one of the fatal and infectious diseases among poultry. The affected birds show symptoms of sneezing, gasping and infection in bronchitis, which may lead to sudden death also. Shatadal Ghorai, and Narugopal Ghorai, both herbal healers, administer a herbal formulation to treat the medical condition in birds.
Shatadal Ghorai (55), a widow, has been practicing herbal medication since her teenage. Her husband was a daily wage labourer who died early leaving behind young children and family for her to take care of. She managed by doing odd tasks at times and receiving alms. She now lives with her son and his family. Her son is a daily wage van driver. Shatadalis not educated but has good knowledge of herbs, which she learnt from her father. Her father was an expert herbal healer who used to give medicines free of cost to the people.
In early 1970’s, lot of chicken in her village died due to respiratory distress. She tried to cure them using herbs she had been using. The medication showed moderate results, Shatadal continued to work upon improving the method of preparation and got better results. She was thus able to help a number of poultry keepers. She has, since then, been using this particular medication to cure respiratory distress and for the same is recognized in her village and around. She does not charge any money for her services however sometimes people give her rice or paddy as token of their appreciation. She is very active in community and social work in her village. In 2013, she also actively participated in a regional workshop of poultry healers and other traditional knowledge holders at Purba Medinipur, which was organized by NIF.
Narugopal Ghorai (51) is a casual labourer from a nearby village and earns his living by traditional folk songs. He stays with his wife, four sons and a daughter. He learned herbal medications from a Guru, whom he reveres a lot. He does not charge any money from people whom he administers herbal medicines however accepts if they give him voluntarily. He is helped by his wife and children in collection of the herbs and preparation of the medications. His desire is to help people with whatever knowledge and resources are available with him.
http://nif.org.in/innovation/herbal-medication-for-respiratory-distress-in-poultry/795