Research Paper Socioeconomic status and survey of ethno medicinal plants used by the snake charmers of Bankura District, West Bengal, India.

Rajendra Prasad Mondal; Biswaranjan Dhua; Sukanya Kundu; Puja Chakraborty; Rimil Mandi; Mahadeb Rakshit; Baren Murmu; Pijush Rakshit

doi:10.53555/bs.v2i3.1622

Rajendra Prasad Mondal Bankura Sammilani College,
Biswaranjan Dhua Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura
Sukanya Kundu Bankura Sammilani College
Puja Chakraborty Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura
Rimil Mandi Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura
Mahadeb Rakshit Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura,
Baren Murmu Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura
Pijush Rakshit Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53555/bs.v2i3.1622

Keywords: socio economic, snake charmer, poisonous, ethno medicinal, indigenous, medicine

Abstract

The present work is an attempt to understand the socio economic status of snake charmer and document the
traditional uses of neglected plants as medicine in domestic livelihood system against many diseases. The
survey was carried out among snake charmer of Kamladanga village of Bankura District, West Bengal, India
during November 2015 to January, 2016. A total of 54 individuals (18-70years) were interviewed during the
survey including snake charmers’ wives. Due to governmental support and help, socioeconomic status of
snake charmer’s is slightly improved as a result of shifting from their traditional profession to other
professions. A total of twelve (12) poisonous and non poisonous snake and 20 local plants from 12 families
were documented. Due to increase in modern healthcare facilities and awareness , traditional ethno medicinal
treatment decreases rapidly. So proper documentation of such unique and indigenous, traditional knowledge is
necessary before it lost forever.