CANACONA
Canacona’s well-known traditional healer Kanta Nayak (80), who is fondly known as 'Zada-Paleamcho Dotor', was awarded the Goa State Biodiversity Conservation Award for 2022 by the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB).
Nayak was awarded in recognition of his service to people with herbal medicine by making use of bio-resources and natural products with sustainable harvesting.
Nayak, who is also called Kantamam, has been a popular figure, healing people from snake bites and other ailments with traditional medicine.
Nayak lost his parents at the age of 8 and he along with his brother were brought up for a short while by their grandfather, who was a traditional healer at the time. The grandfather passed away sometime later but passed on his legacy of treating people with medicinal herbs to Kantamam.
Over the years and decades, Nayak mastered the art of traditional healing and offered his services to people across the State, with even people from Karnataka and Maharashtra seeking his services.
While Nayak has never charged fees for his services, grateful patients offer him coconuts, rice and some money. He claims to have treated people suffering from jaundice, acidity and other ailments with traditional medicine.
Nayak runs a small tea stall with his wife which provided them with a basic livelihood.
As part of his daily routine, Nayak wakes up at 4 am and after his regular chores, performs yoga, cleans his hotel and bathes in cold water, irrespective of the season and temperature.
One son had initially shown interest in continuing his father’s traditional healing services but when he was serious about pursuing the practice, Nayak trained two persons from his locality. While both are undergoing training under Nayak, strict adherence to certain abstinence and regulations have not been easy for them.
Thanking the GSBB for bestowing an award to Nayak, Shrishthal Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) President Vinay Tubki said the BMC had issued a ‘Vaidus Card’ many years ago, allowing the cardholder to visit forests and collect herbs and medical plants.
“We have seen how Kantamam has been selflessly serving society. He has been treating people without expectations or remuneration. Such people are a God's gift to society,” said Tubki.
Nayak was awarded in recognition of his service to people with herbal medicine by making use of bio-resources and natural products with sustainable harvesting.
Nayak, who is also called Kantamam, has been a popular figure, healing people from snake bites and other ailments with traditional medicine.
Nayak lost his parents at the age of 8 and he along with his brother were brought up for a short while by their grandfather, who was a traditional healer at the time. The grandfather passed away sometime later but passed on his legacy of treating people with medicinal herbs to Kantamam.
Over the years and decades, Nayak mastered the art of traditional healing and offered his services to people across the State, with even people from Karnataka and Maharashtra seeking his services.
While Nayak has never charged fees for his services, grateful patients offer him coconuts, rice and some money. He claims to have treated people suffering from jaundice, acidity and other ailments with traditional medicine.
Nayak runs a small tea stall with his wife which provided them with a basic livelihood.
As part of his daily routine, Nayak wakes up at 4 am and after his regular chores, performs yoga, cleans his hotel and bathes in cold water, irrespective of the season and temperature.
One son had initially shown interest in continuing his father’s traditional healing services but when he was serious about pursuing the practice, Nayak trained two persons from his locality. While both are undergoing training under Nayak, strict adherence to certain abstinence and regulations have not been easy for them.
Thanking the GSBB for bestowing an award to Nayak, Shrishthal Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) President Vinay Tubki said the BMC had issued a ‘Vaidus Card’ many years ago, allowing the cardholder to visit forests and collect herbs and medical plants.
“We have seen how Kantamam has been selflessly serving society. He has been treating people without expectations or remuneration. Such people are a God's gift to society,” said Tubki.
