INDIA – A woman boasting a record-breaking 31 fingers and toes has been branded a ‘witch’ by her superstitious neighbours.
Kumari Nayak, 63, is set to enter the Guinness World Records for having the most digits in the world – 19 toes and 12 fingers.
She beats previous record holder Devendra Suthar, who entered the record book in 2014 – with 14 toes and 14 fingers.
But Kumari, from Ganjam district in Odisha, India, claims cruel neighbours have branded her a “witch” and avoid her in the street.
She said: “I was born with this defect and I couldn’t be treated as we belonged to a poor family. It has now been 63 years that I have had this condition.
“The residents nearby, who are too much into blind faiths, believe that I am a witch and keep away from me. They sometimes come to see my condition – but never help.
“I am forced to stay indoors as I am being treated differently which is not a nice way of treatment from my neighbours.”
One of her neighbours, who is aware of Kumari’s condition, said: “This is a small village and people here are too much into blind faiths.
“Odisha is a state of blind faiths and hence treat her as a witch. I know that she has a medical problem and has nothing to do with what others believe her to be.
“I feel so sorry for her that she cannot even afford to get herself treated.”
Kumari said she has no money to fund her treatment and often feels forced to stay in her home.
Government officials in India, having heard of Kumari’s plight, have offered her a home and a pension, as well as trying to spread awareness among her neighbours.
An administrative department spokesman said: “We are aware of her situation and have offered all possible help.
“We are also educating her neighbours to treat her with love and compassion and that she is not a witch.”
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Credit : SDE
