Date:18/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021815300300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Midwife, native healer to be honoured

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 17. A tribal woman, who helped over 2,000 women in safe delivery, and a man who saved thousands of cattle with his traditional knowledge of veterinary science, will be honoured by the city-based Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions.

Darshan Shankar, director of the foundation, told presspersons here today that Mastamma of Hebbalahadi village in Hunsur taluk of Mysore district had conducted over 2,000 deliveries, mostly in the tribal areas. She had handled cases such as entanglement of the umbilical cord and "breach delivery" and had provided relief to many women.

She would get the foundation's Paramaparika Vaidya Ratna Award.

Jediyappa Gowda of Lingsugur village in Raichur district helped farmers by treating and saving thousands of their cattle. He was constantly making efforts to save the local cattle breeds and had set aside his land for the development of medicinal plants for the use of the local community, Mr. Shankar said.

He would be honoured with the title Vanaushadi Pandit. The awards carry a purse of Rs. 10,000 each and mementos.

He said the awards would be given at Mythic Society here on Friday during the launch of Amruth HomeGarden.