Breklum mission and its role in the development of economy, education and health of Koraput

Before the advent of Breklum Mission in Koraput, it was passing through a ‘Dark Age‘. It was a hilly and inaccessible region and isolated from outside world for century together and remained backward and underdeveloped. The People of this area were indigent, grossly illiterate, superstitious and considered untouchable and outcaste. They were indulged in a number of evil practices such as female infanticide, Child marriage, Mariah sacrifice, seclusion of women, rigidity of caste system and untouchability. It was a malaria prone district. However, with the coming of the Breklum Mission to this district on 15^th May, 1882 A.D. it heralded a new epoch in socio - cultural development of Koraput. The mission brought handful of welfare schemes such as eradication of illiteracy and established schools and introduced Zenana system for female education. For economic upliftment it introduced agriculture, plantation work, established Banks and vocational centres etc. Consciousness of health and hygiene, the mission established clinics, hospitals and mobile health care system. Thereafter, there was a tremendous impact of missionaries’ activities of Breklum mission in this district.