Surendra Ram considered himself a most unfortunate father. He had virtually nothing left at his disposal to afford the expensive treatment for his 12-year-son Anuj Kumar—paralysed after his teacher hit him on the neck two years ago. He knocked on every possible door, but little help came.
Finally, the 40-year-old wrote a petition to the President of India. He sent a copy to the Prime Minister, to AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Chief Minister of Delhi.
In his petition, Ram had attached copies of The Pioneer edition that carried the news of corporal punishment inflicted on Anuj and his father's tribulations.
On April 30, help finally came. The President's Secretariat issued a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, asking him to give "appropriate attention" to the petition and communicate "action taken on the petition to the petitioner," Ram.
Two years of operations and medication in Delhi have sapped Ram of all. But his son is still unable to move and remains bedridden at Safdarjung Hospital, bed number 11, hall 2.
Ram had pleaded that treatment of his son be arranged in a "better hospital like AIIMS or Apollo."
He said he has spent nearly Rs 15 lakh on treatment of his two sons. Amar (5) had some problem in his right arm, which was wrongly diagnosed and treated at Safdarjung, according to Ram. Now, both his sons are disabled.
Ram and his family live at the dharamshala of Safdarjung Hospital.
He has sought Rs5 lakh from the Government, as he is on the verge of starvation. He seeks to open a tea stall near the hospital, so he can earn a bit and support his family.
Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, two teachers have been punished. "The accused para-teacher of Rajkiya Uttkramit Madhya Vidyalaya, Birendra Kumar Singh, has been discharged from service.
The principal has also been suspended for his role in covering up the issue," said Shivendra Kumar, Palamau Superintendent of Education.