In Banswara, an interior district of Rajasthan, traditional practices like faith healing are still thriving. The district sits in the basin of the Mahi River and is mostly rural, with rugged hills and dirt roads that wash away during monsoon season. Remote tribal villages, isolated from the epicenters of modern society, have been relying on faith to cure their ailments for centuries, long before the implementation of the Rajasthan Free Medicine Scheme (RFMS). Despite the general state-wide success of providing free, generic medication, doctors and district officials still struggle to gain the trust of Banswara’s population and to demonstrate the benefits of low cost, medical treatment from public institutions. Tradition, coupled with a high mistrust of government programs, have kept bhopas relevant in the twenty-first century.

In India’s overloaded healthcare system, issues like understaffed facilities and dwindling resources can contribute to impersonal experiences at the District Hospital for some patients. Many tribal villagers have developed long-lasting connections with their bhopas, and doctors cannot compete with the intimacy or moral support that faith healing provides. Due to a drastic increase in annual footfall— an indication of the Rajasthan Free Medicine Scheme’s popularity— the few doctors who are available are usually only able to see their clients for under five minutes per patient. In that short window of time, they must diagnose the problem and prescribe the appropriate medications. It leaves little room for doctor-patient communication or developing an understanding of the cultural background of the person in front of them. On the other hand, faith healers are part of their patients’ cultural background. They share the same community, customs and religion.

To view the entire project commissioned by Open Society Foundation, click HERE.