Date:10/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/10/stories/2007111055030800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Deformity, poverty make his life miserable

S. Harpal Singh

Chinnanna

BIRSAIPET (ADILABAD DT.): Harijan Chinnanna of Birsaipet in Utnoor mandal is stricken with some form of congenital spinal deformity that has made him an ungainly quadruped. In addition, poverty has forced him to beg for a living that makes his condition more pitiable.

As the first name denotes, 23-year-old Chinnanna belongs to a Scheduled Caste community. He was born in this village to poor agriculture labourer parents who could ill afford any medical expenses. They got him examined at the Government Hospital in Adilabad where doctors reportedly said his condition was hopeless.

MRI suggested

However, a private orthopaedic surgeon, Anil Chidrala, suggested an MRI on the person in order to pin point the cause of his disability. He said any deformity of the spinal cord could be corrected. “Nevertheless, a definite opinion can be given only after a proper diagnosis is done.” “Though the condition is not unknown, it can be said that spinal deformity of some kind renders the lower limbs too weak to carry the body weight. This forces the person to use his upper limbs that are comparatively stronger,” he added.

While his condition is certainly difficult, Chinnanna has a ray of hope in Saurabh Gaur, Project Director, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor. The latter has come up with the proposal of providing Chinnanna with sufficient aid for diagnosis of the disease. “We will get him examined at an appropriate hospital and give him the needed treatment. The mandal samakhya concerned can allocate funds out of the DFID project to foot the medical bill,” revealed Mr. Gaur.