Children being exploited to spread superstition: Rationalists

An association of rationalists has alleged violation of children's rights by certain groups in Chikkamagaluru which use them for advertisements to spread superstitious beliefs.

A complaint was lodged recently with the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights by the Federation of Indian Rationalists Associations (FIRA) in this regard.

In the complaint, FIRA president Narendra Nayak alleged children were being forced to do illegal acts and display imaginary powers for cheating the public.

He submitted a video along with his complaint which showed some children claiming they have a 'third eye' which can be 'activated' when they are blindfolded.

The video claims children can see through pulse, their brain power and improved concentration.

A group from Aldur in Chikkamagaluru claims that children can be made to see without the light from the object falling on their retina, Nayak said in the complaint.

Those promoting the children in the videos have allegedly been collecting fee from the people interested in acquiring the 'skill' within a period of time.

Another superstition being promoted is 'mid-brain activation' which claims it would help students improve their studies.

For this, children are made to do activities like eyeball exercise, dancing and listening to various sounds.

A number of groups in the state exploit children in this way to cheat the people, Nayak said in the complaint, and requested the commission to order an investigation into the matter and take action against those behind such acts.

Nayak said he had conducted various awareness programmes to expose the groups, but parents of some children were still duped by such cheating in the name of 'mid-brain activation' and 'third eye'.

He suggested that the commission direct such claimants to appear before an expert panel of ophthalmologists, educationists, magicians and psychiatrists in order to expose the fraud.