Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Feb 3: A person, who was hoping that the aid assured by Kerala government to enable his wife, an endosulfan victim, to pursue her dream of medical education, tried to end his life after the aid remained elusive,and there was question mark on the continuance of his wife's education.

Jagadish Kuntar, a resident of Kuntaru in the district, who works for a private bus company, was admitted into a private hospital in serious condition, after consuming poison out of frustration. His wife,Shruti, who hails from a hamlet near Vaninagara in Padre, Enmakaje gram panchayat in the district, had been suffering from abject poverty and side affects of endosulfan since childhood and had dreamed of becoming a doctor.

Shruti lost her mother when three and was brought up by her father. She walked to her school and completed SSLC with 75 percent marks and PUC with 71 percent. Her right palm has been slit because of endosulfan side affects. and she moves around with the help of artificial legs. School teachers and doctor from Vaninagara, Dr Mohan Kumar, had provided her encouragement to pursue her dream of higher education.

After Kerala Institution of Homeopathy informed Shruti that it would meet preliminary phase educational expenses, Shruti appeared for medical entrance examination in Karnataka. She had bagged seat to pursue education in the government homeopathy college at Magadi Road Bengaluru. After this feat of Shruti gained some publicity, Kerala government expressed its willingness to finance her education. Chief minister, Oommen Chandy, had called for detailed report from the district collector here, and he had promised to the MLA that financial assistance would be extended to Shruti.

It has been six months since Shruti joined the medical college. As the government's promise did not materialize, she is facing problems in meeting college fee. She now pins hope on the assurance given by Homeopathy Association to come to her rescue if the government fails to do so. ;Although the family got some help from various organizations, the assistance is not enough to enable Shruti to meet the expenses.

Additional district magistrate here, H Dinesh, said that the government is taking measures to meet Shruti's medical expenses and that this issue would be discussed at the endosulfan meet being held on Wednesday in the town. Kerala Institution of Homeopathy district unit secretary, Dr Vivek, says that his association has set aside two lac rupees to assist Shruti, and that the organization is prepared to transfer this fund to the account jointly held by Shruti and college principal.

Shruti, who uses prosthetic Jaipur Foot, has to spend around Rs 60,000 once in two or three years. to replace them.