Raute women prefer tradition to modern birthing centres

Dailekh / February 16: The women from the nomadic Raute tribe prefer to give birth on a tuft of the babiyo grass rather than at the birthing centre.

The Rautes, who still lead a nomadic life roaming the forests, believe that giving birth on a tuft of babiyo grass ensures the baby’s survival and makes it physically strong.

“It is our practice that child delivery takes place on a tuft of the babiyo grass. Hospital or birthing centre is for people like you. For people like us living in the jungle, the delivery is on grass,” the tribal head of the Rautes, Mahin Bahadur Shahi, said.

The government has adopted the policy requiring that every delivery takes place at hospitals or the birthing centres as a measure to reduce child and maternal death.

Following the government’s policy, many women in the country, except the illiterate ones, have started visiting the hospitals and the health centres for delivery. Moreover, the mothers’ groups have also been promoting safe delivery practices and in many places decided to fine women giving birth at home.

However, the Rautes, who lead a nomadic lifestyle, are deprived of this facility, putting many expecting Raute mothers at health risk. Neither they take the iron supplement during pregnancy nor do they get proper care and healthy diet.

The Rautes believe more in the herbal and traditional medicine than on allopathic ones. It is said the Raute population is dwindling die to child marriage and the unsafe delivery practices. RSS