Assam University organises 'Ophidiophobia-an effort to redress' to generate awareness about snakes and to dispel various myths

Assam University campus and its adjoining areas are having a very high diversity of plants and animals and snakes are no exception to this. There are frequent reports of snake encounters in the campus and many of them are critically endangered. In a bid to increase awareness about snakes and to dispel various myths and misconceptions among the varsity community and its adjoining population, an awareness program entitled, ‘OPHIDIOPHOBIA- AN EFFORT TO REDRESS’ ( সর্পাতঙ্ক- দূরীকরণের পন্থা-পদ্ধতি) was arranged under the initiative of Assam University.

The program was presided over by Prof. G. P. Pandey, In-charge Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Parthankar Choudhury, Dean, E. P. Odum School of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Jayashree Rout, Senior faculty of the Ecology and Environmental Science department and representative of Assam Forest Department, Juran Ali Ahmed (Deputy Conservator of Forest, Cachar) were present in the dias.

Sagnik Choudhury, President, AUNTEA in his welcome address explained the background and need of arranging such a program in the university. Prof. Parthankar Choudhury in his speech elaborated the decade long research carried out by his team on snake rescue and safe release in the wild areas and also urged people to resort to scientific ways instead of relying on black magic, as ‘Ojha-therapy’ is common among the village mass.

Main part of the program was the presentation by researchers on snake, Sumit Nath, Biswajit Singh and Sibam Sarkar, all from the department of Ecology and Environmental Science. They discussed various practical aspects like distinction between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, available snake species in the varsity premises, importance of snakes for the maintenance of equilibrium balance in the environment and ways and means to prevent snake bite etc.

Dr. Devdatta Biswas, medical Oficer of the varsity discussed various ways of management of snake bite patients and the medical aspects.

Dr Surajit Giri, a Snake bite social activist, and a Physician (Anaestheiologist) by profession of the Demow Rural Community Health Center, Sivasagar through a live video conference very nicely explained his vast experience of saving thousands of lives since 2008. He stressed the need of creating awareness about snakes. According to him, there is a very strong need to train medical and paramedical staff to handle snake bite related emergencies. He is of the view that a timely medical intervention can save a person, even if it is a bite from a deadly poisonous snake. He stressed the need of removing superstitions and appealed to all that each one should take immediate medical attention in such emergency situations.

The program was compered by Dr. Panna Deb and ended up with vote of thanks by Dr Shovan DattaGupta, coordinator of the program.