Pension for U’khand shamans slammed by rationalists

DEHRADUN: Jagariyas and Dagariyas are those who invoke gods and spirits in traditional folk Hindu rituals across the hills of Uttarakhand. The state government’s decision to give them a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 each has not gone down well with rationalists, especially doctors and scientists.
The shamans, it has been pointed out, have opposed government schemes in the past including Swachch Bharat Mission in Uttarkashi on the pretext that such “modern” ideas would invite divine wrath.After the intervention of the administration, villagers had agreed to construct toilets, but with some conditions to which officials had to agree.
While the state social welfare department has identified 5,000 of the shamans, opponents to the pension scheme said it was an attempt to promote superstition.
Worried about the slow pace of development in the hills, senior psychiatrist Dr (Lt Col) JS Rana said, “Crafting such schemes without realising their long-lasting impact will not benefit Uttarakhand in the long run. The move will only strangulate development in those pockets of state which actually need liberal outlook in bringing much-needed change to the lifestyles of villagers.”
“These pensions are demotivating for practitioners of modern science in a developing nation like ours. Jagariyas nd Dagariyas are not unique to Uttarakhand, they can be found elsewhere in the world. The state government should be sensitive while crafting such schemes for its own people,” Rana added.
The role of the shamans in actively preventing treatment of patients is also infamous. In the latest incident, family members of a TB patient from Chakrata who was admitted at Doon Medical College Hospital for surgery, left treatment midway and took the patient home after a shaman objected to the treatment. This was despite the fact that the patient’s lung was filled with fluid and he needed immediate surgery.
According to government officials, the pension was meant to encourage the shamans’ tradition of music. “It will give financial independence to these people and aims to preserve the music they play during their rituals. In the hills, jagariyas and dagariyas are an important part of the belief system of people,” said Vishnu Dhanik, director of social welfare department.
“It is a subject of one’s belief and we respect it. But rather than shelling out money on such a scheme, it would be more sensible to invest in creating mental health facilities for people in the hills of Uttarakhand. Let us be humane towards those who need us. Medically, such people fall under the category of dissociative and conversion disorders. Let’s combat such ailments rather than promoting such activities,” said president of Indian Psychiatry Society, Uttarakhand, Dr Nand Kishore.
Psychiatrists also expressed the fear that the pension might end up increasing the number of such patients in the hills through some form of mass hysteria or collective delusion.
According to sources, senior social welfare department officials were also against the pension scheme. “We had suggested to the brass to simply create a pension scheme for those above 60 years, or even 50, but it was in vain. Perhaps political benefits surpass everything else,” said an official.