Fish medicine to be administered today

Telangana to support fish 'prasadam'

The Telangana government has decided to extend all support to the Bathini Goud family for administering the fish ‘prasadam’ (medicine) for asthma patients today and tomorrow. The family will start administering the fish 'prasadam' at 5.30pm today at the sprawling Exhibition Grounds in Nampally in the heart of the city. The event will continue for 24 hours.

Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on Wednesday directed various departments to make necessary arrangements for smooth conduct of the event.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Road Transport Corporation (RTC), Water Board, fisheries, police and electricity departments will make arrangements for the convenience of patients who come from different parts of the country.

The first government of Telangana decided to support the event despite the direction of the Lokayukta to the government of undivided Andhra Pradesh last year not to sponsor or support the event as there is no scientific proof that the substance cures asthma.

While observing that it is only a superstition, the ombudsman said Goud can continue practicing it as there is no law restraining such practices.

Thousands of people every year take the "wonder drug" administered on the occasion of ‘Mrigasira Karthi’, which heralds the onset of monsoon. It is believed that if taken for three consecutive years, it cures asthma. The family claims to be distributing the fish medicine free of cost for the past 169 years. It renamed the drug as "prasadam" a few years ago following controversies after some groups approached courts, seeking a ban on what was termed an "unscientific" practice.

The Bathini brothers insert a yellow herbal medicine into the mouth of a live sardine fish which is about 2 to 3 inches long. This live fish is then slipped into the throat of a patient. "For vegetarians we prepare separate medicine with jaggery. However, vegetarians need to take the medicine for a longer period," Harinath Goud, secretary of the Bathini Foundation, said.

The state fisheries department has made all arrangements to supply thousands of fish lings near the Exhibition Grounds and the RTC has made arrangements to ply special buses to the venue from across the city. This year, the family says, they are expecting close to 4 lakh people from all over the world. "More than 200 volunteers from social organisations and NGOs will help organise the event so that there is no scope for inconvenience to the public," added Harinath.