Dalit woman Reeta Devi’s ordeal found some solace in the form of Chhatarpur MlA Radha Krishna Kishore. A resident of Khajoori Naudeeha village, the woman having pregnancy of 10 weeks had suffered burn injuries in her house on January 12 but apprehensive about losing her kidney when she went to receive treatment from a local ‘doctor’.
Her husband Kamlesh Paswan had reportedly taken her to a quack Surinder Paswan for treatment who not only demanded Rs11,000 for treatment but worse of all she finally got discharged with 3-inch incision on her left side of abdomen. “This was strange and painful to her. She had more burns on her legs. Her abdomen was far more safe. There was no need of any incision of her abdomen but there was the incision and stitches on her left side of the abdomen,” said her husband.
The Dalit family is apprehensive that her kidney is being taken out though hospital sources have not confirmed as of now. Anyway living in abject poverty the woman badly needed better treatment. The MlA reached Reeta Devi and arranged her shifting to Sadar Hospital in Daltonganj on January 14 and later got her admitted in RIMS Ranchi.
Sources said RIMS doctor too are in a fix over the operation. Kishore said, "I have filed a 'calling attention motion' which is listed in the Assembly. The government is to respond to my queries in this regard." On being asked that quacks are taking rural patients for a ride Kishore said, "This is rampant.
Quacks are minting money at the cost of public health. They must be booked to law. The health department must act fast." Meanwhile on January 16 the lady had filed a criminal case against the quack pending any police action.