Ulunda: Antara Muna and his son Rohit were returning home on a bike when an unidentified truck hit them at Goudagaon under Ulunda panchayat in Subarnapur district April 16, 2017. Both were rushed to Ulunda hospital and then shifted to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla. While Antara has returned home, Rohit has been in coma since then.
Extreme poverty has come in his way of availing proper treatment. After the accident, Rohit had undergone treatment for three months at VIMSAR. As the family members ran short of money, they had to bring Rohit back home.
The VIMSAR doctor, who was treating Rohit, says his treatment is possible at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. But Antara does not have the wherewithal to take his son to SCB.
The poverty-stricken family, however, has managed to keep Rohit alive till now by spending more than Rs 20, 000 per month on his medicines and liquid diet like milk and Horlicks.
Rohit, a BPL card holder, was the sole bread-earner of the family. Being in coma for six months, his wife Subhasini, two sons and a daughter are feeling helpless. “The government gives lakhs of rupees to those who die in natural calamities. But in case of my husband, it has shut its eyes,” said Subhasini.
When Rohit’s case was taken up with the district administration by the local media, he got nothing more than an assistance of Rs 10, 000 from the District Red Cross fund, it was learnt.
The villagers along with the family members have requested the government to provide financial support to Rohit. PNN