Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

practice a combination of traditional medicine and magic, such as Thurab thangal of
Parakkadavu. There are Thangals in Tirurangadi who practice similar varieties of
medicine and one thangal has set up a medical shop in Chemmad. There are several
homeo clinics in the area, prasanthi in Padikkal being one of the more famous ones.
Some practice a combination of various forms. Two such centers at present exist in
Munniyur. There is a clinic of natural healing named Sanjeevani in Thenhippalam
The following is a tentative list of the health facilities in the field area:
Table XXVII
Panchayat
Modern
Medicine
Ayurveda
PHC,
CHC,FWC,IPP
Tirurangadi 7 3 3 -
Thenhippalam - 1 11 1
Parappanangadi - - 8 1
Vallikkunnu - 1 9
Munniyur 1 1 7 3
Nannambra 1 1 1 -
Source: Field Diaries
Others
Observation of health centers and clinics shows that unlike modern education, the spread
of modern health practices has been uneven. There are several areas in the field where
there are no practitioners of modern medicine, and some areas have not produced a single
doctor. Many people still depend on Aryavaidyasalas and local remedies, and reach
clinics on emergencies. Most of the people depend on primary health centers, which are
normally ill-equipped. Somewhat well to do people go to M.K.Haji hospital and the
hospitals in Ramanattukara and Feroke and the rich go to the elite hospitals in Calicut and
other nearby towns. Women generally depend on health centers or indigenous remedies.
At the same time, health clubs for women have appeared in places like Kohinoor, near
University. It appears that the social distinctions and cultural practices are most apparent
in the case of health.