Kantamal: In want of financial strength to get her husband treated, a woman from Saharipali village under Kantamal block of Boudh district had to pawn her ration card that provides for her family’s basic needs.
According to reports, the family of four comprises of Rajendra Kalta, his wife Babita, nine-year-old son Sahil and seven-year-old daughter Sweety. Rajendra, a daily wager, lost consciousness and fell off a village culvert he was sitting on last Sunday afternoon owing to unknown health issues.
His family immediately rushed him to Sonepur government hospital and from there he was referred to VIMSAR, Burla. At VIMSAR, he regained his consciousness. But, the doctors there advised his family members to take him to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment.
However, his family members had to bring Rajendra back home since they could not afford further medical expenses.
That said, Babita understood that her husband needed to undergo hospitalisation at SCB. In order to raise the required fund, she started taking advances from people promising to work for them later. Besides, she took hand loans from relatives.
Yet, after all the money she managed to collect fell short of the required amount for treatment, she had to pawn the family ration card to raise whatever little she could to add to the sum.
She has sought intervention of government or a charity to help her out during the tough times.