Rohit is a victim of brain tumor, but parents insist on tantrik healing
Ten-year old Rohit is suffering from brain tumor but his poor parents fearing the huge expenses of treatment coupled with their faith in the traditional rituals are unwilling to heed to the advice of doctors who are suggesting an immediate operation.
Their faith on the rituals was so high that they took him home when the doctors were preparing for an operation. living in a small village situated about 20 kms from the temple town of Rishikesh life was fun for little Rohit till he fell ill for hours, together he used to play in the cool waters of river Hinwal along with his other friends after the school.
A student of class V of the Government primary school, Beragarh of Yamkeshwar block in Pauri Garhwal district, Rohit according to his teachers is very good in studies. His father Rais Chand, who is a labourer and belong to SC, told this correspondent that Rohit used to complain about headache which they ignored but when his condition deteriorated in May this year then they took him to the village tantrik, who performed some rituals, but the condition of the child did not improve.
On the insistence of Village Pradhan, Arun Jugaran and other villagers Rais Chand took Rohit to district Hospital Rishikesh from where he was asked to go to the Doon hospital.
According to Rais Chand, the doctors at Doon hospital after doing diagnostic tests advised him to go to the Himalayan Institute hospital Trust (HIHT), in Jolly Grant.
After the efforts of the Head Mistress of village Primary School, Mamta Payal, and one Kotdwar based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Hans Cultural Centre offered to help the child.
The doctors at the HIHT told the parents of the child that Rohit should be operated upon but Rais Chand refused to put his child on the operation table and took him home.
Arun Jugran, the Village Pradhan said that Rais Chand believed that due to some divine wrath Rohit has fallen ill and after doing the traditional rituals of appeasing the God he would be alright.
In the meantime, the NGO released a cheque of `1.05 lakh favouring the HIHT Jollygrant for the treatment of the child. Padmendra Singh Bisht of Hans Cultural Centre told the correspondent that Rohit’s father should have allowed the doctors to operate the child.
He said that his organisation would reissue the cheque if the child is operated upon as per the advice of the doctors.On Thursday, the condition of Rohit deteriorated further as he lost his vision, after the rebuke of the villagers Rais Chand again took him to district Hospital Rishikesh.
The pediatrician of Rishikesh District hospital, Dr Narendra Raturi told The Pioneer that Rais Chand is wasting the time as Rohit is suffering from Neuroblastoma of brain —a form of brain tumor- and the treatment now needs a combined effort of oncologist, surgeon, and radio therapist.
He was of the opinion that the child should be shifted to the PGI Chandigarh as all the above mentioned facilities are available there. However, the little Rohit is back in his village now, he is unable to see anything and vomiting.