Saintala: Having failed to cure their ailing sons, and with no help coming their way; parents of diseased teenagers have pledged to donate them to anyone who helps cure them.
The four-member family lives in a one-room thatch at Turchauper village of Dunguripali panchayat under this block in Bolangir district. Bahadur Sahu, head of the family, aged 58, works as a daily wager while Baidehi (53), the mother, works as domestic help to support her family.
However, after the illness Baidehi cannot help her husband as she has to take care of the sons Purnachandra (14 ) and Chakradhar (13).
Like any other parents, their happiness knew no bound when the sons were born to them, in a gap of one year. Spirits ran high and things were looking better as hopes of averting poverty built up. The brothers were no slouch at study either.
Till about eight to nine years of age, Purnachandra and Chakradhar had a normal life. Purnachandra was the first to contract the unknown illness following which, the younger brother also became sick.
Purnachandra cannot stand even for a little stretch of time. He immediately collapses after a few seconds and Chakradhar has lost mobility in both his legs.
When Bahadur and Baidehi first came to know about the deformities, they were shattered.
Although under very poor condition, they took their sons to hospitals in Vishakhapatnam, Vellore, Olatpur in Cuttack district and tried every possible remedy that was handy but to no avail. Let alone the treatment, even a diagnosis of the illness has not happened till date.
Meanwhile, the parents have already sold off whatever land and valuables they had for the hospital expenses.
Now the cost of the treatment and the diagnosis is haunting them every moment.
When asked if they have tried getting help, Bahadur said “Purnachandra has been receiving a disable pension of Rs 300 and from this year Chakradhar is getting the same.” This apart, the family is getting 20 kg of rice on their ration card and no other help is being provided under government sanctions.
Bahadur met the Collector sometime back and pleaded for help. The Collector after hearing Bahadur’s sufferings directed the block development officer to take appropriate steps after a proper inquiry. However, bad luck for Bahadur, the BDO got transferred before he could initiate an inquiry.
When contacted, the new BDO said, “I do not know anything about it. The tehsildar will prepare a report as to what the disease it is, where they have been treated, what the doctors are saying and what is the family’s source of income. Thereafter we will find the appropriate help. If their treatment requires more money, it will be released from Chief Minister’s relief fund”.
The parents seem to have only a slender hope of getting their sons treated, and if this fails they would hand over their sons to whoever can cure them.
The villagers urged the administration to intervene and provide all possible help to the family which is in dire need of immediate support.
PNN