Villages of the Thondangi and Uppada-Kottapalli mandals in the Kakinada district strictly adhere to their customs of ‘Voni’, which ensures an active propagation of the unhealthy practice of consanguineous marriages. However, this comes at a great cost, with many children being born out of such marriages becoming victims of severe physical and mental health problems. Mothers of such children are so traumatised that they even fear holding a naming ceremony for their children, finds T. Appala Naidu