https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Branding Kids With Hot Iron?! Not Anymore

Indian Masterminds Stories

Would you believe it that in this day and age, children get branded with hot iron- the same treatment which is meted out to horses? And that this abominable practice is carried out in certain pockets of Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, in a belief- idiotic, of course- that doing so would help the kids overcome malnutrition? But thanks to the timely intervention by IAS officer Mr Swarochish Somavanshi, this practice is in a sharp decline. Also, a series of measures taken by him have started helping the children with malnutrition.

Besides fighting centuries’ old superstitions, such as iron branding of children, Mr. Somavanshi is also bestowed with a kind heart. One which goes beyond the limits of his duties. In one such heart-warming gesture, he gave up his office air-conditioners and got these installed in a place where malnourished children spent afternoon hours in the scorching heat. At present, Mr. Somavanshi is posted in the Technical Education department of Madhya Pradesh. Among the public, he is a source of inspiration for his kindness and unconditional love. But first, his battle against malnourishment.

IAS Swarochish Somavansh during an event

Project Sanjeevini

Almost 80 % of population in Umaria resides in rural areas, and is dependent on forest and coal mines for survival. Living in rural aras for long could be reason why many people here remain uneducated, and to a large extent steeped in superstitions. The major problem here was malnutrition in children. When Mr. Somavanshi got posted here, the thing that shocked him was the way locals were fight the scourge of malnutrition. The elder of the family used to iron brand the child’s belly, in an erroneous belief that this would make them healthy. When asked about the reason, they used to say “We also have the marks and this shows that the process helps in gaining health’’. Mr. Somavanshi was shocked and sad at the inhuman treatment meted out to the children. He couldn’t let them practise this anymore. Immediately, he made a three-step plan to make Umaria malnutrition free district. He named this initiative ‘Sanjeevini’ and it included creating awareness about the superstition as well as providing good nutrition to the children.

Mr Somavanshi initially faced many challenges in convincing the people to bring their children to the nearest Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs). To make this a serious campaign, he announced that FIR would be lodged against those who failed to do so and continued with their earlier methods. This had the desired effect on the people and they started to bring the children at the NRCs. In an interview Mr. Somavanshi said that people used to believe the local quacks more than the doctors, but their belief changed after they started visiting the NRCs and witnessed the benefits in the children’s condition. Through word of mouth, people started believing in doctors more.

His initiative, Project Sanjeevini has gained him praises.

Giving Up Office ACs

The heatwave during the summers is a big problem in Umaria. When Mr. Somavanshi was visiting one of the NRCs, he noticed that the admitted children are very uncomfortable there. He immediately gave orders for installing air conditioners (ACs) in the centres. But he also realised that the actual installation of the machines would take time. He couldn’t just leave those children in that condition and wait. So, he gave up the ACs of his office and immediately installed them in the centres. He got a lot of praise and love for this act.

Mr Somavanshi is no longer the DC of Umaria. Nevertheless, he remains a big talking point in the district, and people recall with sense of gratitude what all he had done for the children of Umaria.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
CBI Orders Attachment of ₹7 Crore Properties in Corruption Case Involving IRS Officer Amit Nigam - Details Inside
IAS B Ashok
Setback for Kerala Govt: CAT Quashes IAS B Ashok’s Appointment as LSG Reforms Commission Chairman - Details Inside
cybercrime
How a Fake Terror Probe Call Led to a Retired Doctor Being Duped of ₹2.2 Crore by Cyber Fraudsters Posing as IPS, NIA Officers
LCA Tejas
Good News: India Set to Receive First Tejas Mk-1A Fighter Jet from HAL’s Nashik Line by June 2025 - Details Inside
South Eastern Coalfields Limited SECL
SECL Launches Internal Selection Portal to Streamline Employee Promotions - All Details Inside
BPCL_resized
BPCL Announces Senior Management Changes, Venkatraman P. Iyer Made Head of Vigilance
MIDHANI
Dr. S.V.S. Narayana Murty Given Additional Charge as Director (Finance) at MIDHANI - Know More About Him
IAS Officer President murmu
President Addresses IAS Officers from State Services Attending LBSNAA’s 127th Induction Programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
Monika Singh’s Life Beyond the Bureaucracy | Video Interview 
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
shubham kumar ias marriage
IAS Topper Weds BPSC Topper: Shubham Kumar Marries IRS Officer Priyangi Mehta in Patna; Wedding Video Goes Viral
Topper Couple Alert: Shubham Kumar, Priyangi Mehta’s Wedding Grabs Spotlight in Bihar
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
CBI Orders Attachment of ₹7 Crore Properties in Corruption Case Involving IRS Officer Amit Nigam - Details Inside
IAS B Ashok
Setback for Kerala Govt: CAT Quashes IAS B Ashok’s Appointment as LSG Reforms Commission Chairman - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT