Karlamunda: A 32-year-old woman, battling for life with tuberculosis, has sought the intervention of the President of India to medically terminate her life (euthanasia) as she is unable to bear the medical expenses for the treatment of the disease.
She was identified as Yashoda Sahu, wife of Hiramani Sahu, of Bijapati village under this block in Kalahandi district.
In her letter, Tuesday, Yashoda mentioned that things fell apart for the poor family after she was completely paralysed eight months ago. She is bed-ridden and dependent on her husband for everything.
Her husband Hiramani sold all the household items and borrowed money for her treatment. He took her to various hospitals in Kesinga, Bhawanipatna and even Burla-based VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR). However, there is no improvement in her health condition.
Adding to their woes, poor Hiramani has three children to take care of besides his wife. He sells puffed rice for a living. The couple had earlier narrated their ordeal to the district administration but no help has come from officials. Hiramani married Yashoda after his first wife succumbed to cancer.
Now, the couple is left with Hiramani’s first wife’s children Bikram Sahu (13), Laxmipriya Sahu (10) and Jagyaseni Sahu (6). Yashoda had given birth to a baby girl three months back. But the baby died as the ailing mother could not provide proper care to her.
The couple was shattered after their newborn baby girl died a week ago. Left with no option, she wrote to the President seeking euthanasia. Copies of the letter have been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Kalahandi district collector, the SP, the CDMO, the tehsildar, BDO and IIC of M Rampur police station.
When contacted, CDMO Labanya Mund said all treatment expenses of Yashoda would be borne of by the administration. “We have made necessary arrangements to admit her to the district headquarters hospital Wednesday,” Mund said.
Meanwhile, local BDO along with other officials visited the couple and gave Rs 10,000 and a wheelchair to Yashoda. PNN
