THE UNPUBLISHED NEWS: Story of a paan vendors' poor but brilliant girl...who lost both her legs in an accident

Some news are not published but they really don't need any publication to serve their purpose.

I got a call from a desperate father who was struggling to take her daughter home from hospital which was not allowing him due to non-payment of bills. 

He was the father of a girl whose both the legs were recently amputated. 

He was a paan vendor but he set an example in todays' era when male children are considered privileged, he choose to make her girl pursue MBA instead of his male children, because his limited income as a paan shop owner could only bear the expenses of one child's study. But destiny had more tests in store for him.I wrote a story but more than that I wanted to assure the safety of the girl. Being a journalist we have some limitations, story could be published and immediate relief could be obtained but what after that...was the question which restricted the publication of this story till April 11. 

When I submitted it  on April 11, I was already sure about the things which would happen next, but unfortunately--space crunch and miscommunication--the news was not published on April 12th edition, but fortunately enough---The girl was released from hospital without any conditions----the institute of girl assured of securing her rehabilitation and payment of bills.

Submitted on April 11, but not published news

Amarjeet Singh

Being born in a poor family have never been a deterrent for 18 year old Firdaus who bypassed all the hurdles, both financial and social to get admitted at an MBA course but destiny has something more cruel for her. She lost both her legs in an accident by her own institute’s bus, as if this was not enough now the poor girl is not being allowed to go home from hospital due to non-payment of treatment money by her college administration.

Firdaus Ansari,18, daughter of Mohammed Sharif, a paan vendor, was a student of BBA, 3rd semester at Brijmohan Mishra Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences,(BITMS), Burhanpur met an accident on February 22, while she was travelling in her institute bus. The institute is owned by Amit Mishra who is relative of school education minister, Archana Chitnis.

Since then she has been admitted at the Gokuldas Hospital of the city.

"She had injuries in her spinal cord which led to the paralysis of both her legs; we are giving best treatment to her. Now physiotherapy is required may be in some time her legs get well," Dr Deepak S Kulkarni who is treating the patient told DNA.

Older in two siblings, Firdaus was good at studies so her father who owns a paan stall suffered all hardships for ensuring her studies.

"I had to pay Rs1200 per month for bus transporation we anyhow managed for the purpose we also reared animals to earn extra," father of Firdaus, Mohammed Sharif told DNA.

"The hospital is not giving discharge to her basically because the payment is not being made from the college administration. They are putting a condition that I should sign a paper where it has been written that I will not take any legal action against them then only payments would be made," he added.

"I don't have any grudge but doctors are telling that there is no guarantee when will my daughter recover under those conditions how could I sign it," he said.

The institute is owned by school education minister Archana Chitnis's brother Amit Mishra he also asked me to sign the papers, said Sharif.

For the past 15 days, Sharif whose economic condition is not good is making all the payments of medicines which are required for treatment, because hospital authorities failed to provide medicines.

The college administration made payments to the tune of Rs2.5 lakh but bills to the tune of Rs1.5 lakh are still pending, college administration has actually stopped the payments because they want that the kin of patient sign an agreement that they will not take legal action a doctor from the hospital pleading anonymity told DNA.

While talking to DNA, administration of the college assured that payments will me made at the earliest and rehabilitation would also be ensured.

"I was out of station so there has been a communication gap with the kin. But payments will me made at the earliest and we are ready to co-operate for rehabilitation of the patient," secretary of the BITMS, Anil Jain told DNA.

The hospital authorities said that treatment is being done though payments are due.

"We had a word from the doctor who referred Firdaus to our hospital and they will be coming to Indore on April 12 and hopefully issues if any will be resolved,"  director of the Gokuldas Hospital, Dr Sanjay Gokuldas told DNA.