When a vehicle of the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) reached the Karuthalum Kaithangum taluk-level adalat on the SMV Government Model Higher Secondary School premises near Overbridge on Tuesday, many in the gathering had a puzzled look on their face.
The vehicle opened and out stepped an 11-year-old boy who headed towards Minister for Food and Civil Supplies G.R. Anil. The boy was Mohammed Salman, and he had reached the adalat along with his grandmother, a cancer patient, for a ration card. They had heard that if they had a priority card, they would receive free medical treatment.
Mohammed Salman’s family hails from Bihar and has been settled in Poonthura for the past 20 years. Gulshan Khatoun’s son Mohammed Ishlam makes ends meet selling flutes. He is the sole breadwinner of the family of seven, including four children. Gulshan Khatoun’s treatment expenses would come to ₹4 lakh, but finding that much money was nearly impossible for Mohammed Ishlam.
During Gulshan Khatoun’s treatment at the RCC, the family came to know about the adalat. RCC welfare officer Asha and liaison officer Rajagopal who well understood the family’s financial condition helped them reach the adalat venue and apply for the ration card.
All procedures were completed within minutes and the priority ration card was handed over to them. The family returned from the venue with the light of hope in their eyes.
