In 1973, when Lok Biradari Prakalp was established here at Hemalkasa, modern medicine and health care was unknown. When ill the tribals took to local witchcraft, which of course often proved fatal. The forests were plagued with deadly diseases like cerebral malaria, malaria, TB, ascites, cancer and sickle cell anaemia. The tribals were also victims of bear bites, burns, snake bites, scabies and severe malnutrition. The madia-gonds an extremely remarkable race , were utterly ignorant and ages and centuries behind time. Barely clad in clothes,they were unaware of India – The glorious independence and the progress it promised. For them a man in clothes was evil and intimidating. Exploitation by the few government officials was extreme, for the Madias it was just a change from the exploitation by the Gora-sahab to the desi-sahab.

The traditional way of Madia-Gonds to tackle the problems of health and diseases was to approach the supposed witch/wizard of the village. The very first challenge in front of Dr. Prakash and his associates was to show the tribals that the way of superstitions was not the way to follow in case of diseases. The Madias have a tremendous capacity to withstand pain and suffering but the patients who visit the hospital are often in an advanced stage usually because they are brought to the hospital many days, even weeks, after a disease strikes them. Text book treatment is often insufficient partly because the cases are very serious and partly because until recently the facilities available were rudimentary, fractured bones had to be set without the use of x-rays. Animal bites are a common problem, and the worst are snake and bear bites. To top it all, they took on clothed men with apprehension as a result of the immense exploitation they have been subject to by forest officials after independence. In the beginning years, Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte treated patients in the open, to gain their trust, as they distrusted the doctors in a closed room.

Lok Biradari Hospital has now won wide acceptance from the initially suspicious tribals. Today, the hospital caters to around 45,000 patients a year from 1,000 villages in a 250 km radius, including people from Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The hospital has 50 beds and is equipped with all essential facilities like ultra sonography, X-ray, pathology lab, delivery room and operation theatres. The hospital also provides its patients and their relatives with two meals. It provides 24 hour care to patients who may land up at any time of the day. Even though the hospital boasts of many modern facilities and equipment the cases that visit the hospital continue to be as unusual and challenging as ever.

Lok Biradari Hospital has now won wide acceptance from the initially suspicious tribals. Today, the hospital caters to around 45,000 patients a year from 1,000 villages in a 250 km radius, including people from Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The hospital has 50 beds and is equipped with all essential facilities like ultra sonography, X-ray, pathology lab, delivery room and operation theatres. The hospital also provides its patients and their relatives with two meals. It provides 24 hour care to patients who may land up at any time of the day. Even though the hospital boasts of many modern facilities and equipment the cases that visit the hospital continue to be as unusual and challenging as ever.