Policies towards indigenous healers in independent India

Policies towards indigenous healers in independent India show considerable continuities with policies followed in the British period, varying according to the sex of the healer. Traditional birth attendants (dais) have been offered short periods of training by the State since 1902, whereas until recently male healers (vaids and hakims, and later homoeopaths) have been treated with official hostility. Current plans include the training of religious and ritual healers in psychiatric services as well as the employment of indigenous healers in new community health schemes. These changes are assessed in the context of a political economy of health services.