The Hindu : It was a godsend for them

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

It was a godsend for them

By Our Special Correspondent

GADAG Jan. 9. Tuesday turned out to be a lucky day for Shantavva Sankadal of Bannikoppa and Dyamappa of Sugnalli in Gadag District.

The two, who are in their 20s, suffer from severe handicap. Shanta is a virtual pigmy, not even two feet tall. In the case of Dyamappa, it is still worse. None of his limbs is in place. He can neither stand nor sit. He cannot even lie down on his own, let alone walk.

Although the Government has a scheme for assisting the handicapped, it did not reach them nor were they covered during the special enumeration taken up by the officials a few days ago.

On Tuesday, the district administration authorities, along with the Minister for Water Resources, H.K.Patil, visited their villages as part of the "Prabugalatta Prabhutwa" programme.

The programme at Bannikoppa began at 7 p.m. after a delay of nearly three hours. After the normal business of disposing of applications had been gone through, Shanta silently moved close to the stage to catch the attention of the minister. She had a simple request. She wanted free bus pass given to the physically handicapped. Enquiries revealed that none of the Government schemes for the disabled had reached her. No one contacted her during the special enumeration.

The minister not only sanctioned whatever she asked for, but also gave her something she had not expected. He asked the department concerned to give her a tricycle by Republic Day. He also sanctioned her a monthly pension of Rs. 100.

At Sugnalli, the programme began after 11 p.m. with the people patiently waiting for the team. A small group of youths carried Dyamappa to the stage. On seeing his plight, the minister sanctioned pension for him and asked a doctor to see if the man could be given some relief through surgery.

The authorities had no explanation to how these two names had been overlooked in the special applications procured. In another village, a group of 20 boys staying in an SC hostel approached the minister reluctantly and pleaded with him to visit their hostel. They had no complaints. They wanted only a compound wall built for their hostel. Another asked whether the Government could put up a flag post. The minister conceded the two requests on the spot.

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