Bantwal: Family Head Confined to Bed – Wife Struggles to Live with Tragedy
News and pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Nov 9: The once well-built youth, who is expected to shoulder the responsibility of his family, remains stuck to his bed since the last four and half years. His wife is faced with the responsibility of fending for herself, her husband, and their two small children, out of the meagre income she earns through bidi rolling. Her fragile shoulders are tired of carrying this burden since long. The tiny tots, instead of enjoying their childhood, unknowingly have become part of the routine of tears and travails.
This is the scene of a home located at Pottugudde near Bollayi within Sajipa Mooda village, of Abdul Hamid.
What Happened? On May 12, 2005, Abdul Hamid was involved with fixing of rings to a well belonging to the panchayat, at Antaraguttu in Peruvai gram panchayat. Tragedy struck at around 11 am, when the bamboo structure on which he was standing, crashed to the ground. As he fell into the 24-feet deep well, his back hit the hard surface of the well that did not have much water. His backbone was snapped. He was moved to a hospital immediately. For long, he was confident that he would recover and carry on with his family responsibilities, based on the assurances and encouragements the doctors had extended. As the time passed, his expectations have been belied, promises have not come true and he remains rivetted to his bed.
Hamid, who has turned 30, is totally dependent on his wife, Jameela, for everything from food, wearing of clothes and ablutions. Jameela needs to care for husband all the time. Because of the need to lift, support or shift her husband time and again, Jameela now suffers from back and waist pain. She also has to look after her seven year-old daughter, Alimat Shaina, and four and half year-old son, Mohammed Asir, in addition to feeding and providing all the necessities to her family members. Jameela rolls bidis whenever she has time, including at night. The loan she has raised so far for providing medicines to her husband reportedly has crossed Rs 30,000. She says, she is fed up with this life.
Whither Close Ones? At a time when the condition of the family has been worsening with each passing day, the close relatives have distanced themselves from the family. Jameela earns about Rs 800 per month, while Hamid gets Rs 400 per month as disability pension. But, the monthly medicine bills of Hamid cross Rs 3,000. Jameela has to provide food, clothing etc., to the family in addition to paying rent and meeting other expenses. Running the family has been an arduous task for this lady. Even though Hamid is from Kukkila near Vittal, he lives at Pottugudde, Bollayi, as it is convenient for his treatment. Payment of rent for this house devoid of even a toilet has become burdensome.
Hidaya Foundation: Hidaya Foundation, Mangalore, has now come forward with a promise to bear the educational expenses of the two children. A person known to the family, has got a wheel chair for Hamid from a foreign country. Other than this, the family has not got any other help. The family nurtures the dreams of owning a house to escape from the need to pay rent, and of providing good education to the children.
Those willing to help the family may send their remittances to the following account:
Abdul Hameed
SB Account No. 01352210013036
Syndicate Bank
Panemangalore Branch
Bantwala - 574231
Dakshina Kannada
Residential Address:
Abdul Hameed
Pattugudde Mane
Bollayee
Sajipa Muda
Bantwala - 574231
Dakshina Kannada
Tel No. 0091-9880747124