The Hindu : Karnataka News : In search of financial help

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

In search of financial help

Firoz Rozindar

Rudrappa is looking for people who can help him meet his medical expenses

K. Rudrappa

Chitradurga: For the past seven years, K. Rudrappa is suffering from psoriasis. The disease has crippled the life of this 37-year-old and literally brought him to a state of penury.

A resident of Burujanaroppa village of Hiriyur taluk of Chitradurga district, Mr. Rudrappa has completed his masters in Kannada from Shimoga, and has served as part-time lecturer in a private college for a few years before quitting the job after the disease developed in him. Looking at the ailing figure, it is hard to believe that the person in shabby clothes was a one-time lecturer.

The disease compelled him to quit the job as he could not bear the ill-treatment in the college.

“I was leading a normal life before getting infected, but later the college authorities including the students, after realisation of my disease, changed their behaviour. They treated me as though I was an untouchable. Some were even reluctant to accept papers or any documents from me fearing that they may contract the disease. My conscience did not permit me to continue to work their, and I decided to quit,” he said. He claims that he has written couple of unpublished novels and given a copy of it to Infosys Foundation chairperson and writer Sudha Murthy.

In the absence of financial support to treat his ailment, over the years the disease has spread to most of his body. The skin of his limbs has turned white, making it look abominable. He said that in the last seven years, he has knocked the doors of many “influential” people seeking some financial help or some job to meet his medical expenses. “I even visited Janata Darshan programme of the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, I was assured of Rs. 10,000, but later I found that my name was missing in the list of beneficiaries”, he said.

For his quarterly checkup, Rudrappa visits Manipal Hospital in Bangalore which costs him around Rs. 7,000. Though the hospital compensates Rs. 3,000, yet he finds tough to pay rest of the amount.

He said that for his living, he depends on his widow mother and two brothers who are working as labourers. “ I don’t need money, if someone at least offers me a cow, I will make my living of it”, he pleads with folded hands carrying a fading hope in his eyes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka