How dubious godmen, fakirs, and quacks are exploiting the gaps in rural healthcare

With clasped hands, a distraught man kneels and sprawls on the ground. He mumbles in a choked voice, “Please save my brother-in-law. He is battling end-stage cancer and the family is losing hopes.” On the other side is a self-styled, clean-shaven godman maintaining a grave composure. After some deep introspection, the godman offers the panacea — a set of secret hymns to recite by the side of the ailing patient, some sacred ash, and 40 leaves of