Vipul Kaul suffers due to official's apathy. (TIMES NOW)
The office of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has refused to give financial aid to a 13-year-old boy who is battling for his life. In fact the government is playing the Article 370 card saying they are not bound by the Union Home Ministry's order to provide aid to the child.
Vipul Kaul, a 13-year-old son of a Class IV employee in Jammu and Kashmir's Public Works Department suffers from multiple diseases and is alive thanks to drugs that are costing his family a fortune.
Vipul's mother, Usha Kaul said,"I'm very scared. If he isn't given medicines, his life will be in danger". Vipul's family had petitioned former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's government for aid and a s sum of Rs 20 Lakh was assured to them. But when the government changed, the aid stopped. The Home Ministry then intervened and advised the state to continue the aid.
The contents of the letter from the J&K official in reply to Home Minsitery's letter have also upset the state government as well. J&K Health Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma said," Strict action will be taken against the Secretary. I think the man is a 'mental case'. How can anybody snub the Home Minister's letter?" The apathy of the J&K state government has put the life of a hapless 13-year-old boy at risk.
But that ray of hope for the Kaul family now seems to have been cut short, stifled by the callous response from Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's secretary says, "The government of Jammu and Kashmir is not bound to obey the orders of the Home Department of India due to article 370 which gives special status to the state. hence your child's medical case cannot be settled.''
Vipul's father, Ashok Kaul said," This is not a healing touch, but a killing touch policy. They're playing with my son's life".
The contents of the letter from the J&K official in reply to Home Minsitery's letter have also upset the state government as well. J&K Health Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma said," Strict action will be taken against the Secretary. I think the man is a 'mental case'. How can anybody snub the Home Minister's letter?" The apathy of the J&K state government has put the life of a hapless 13-year-old boy at risk.
NDTV
Art 370 or life: J&K family in a bind
Zaffar Iqbal
Thursday, October 4, 2007 ( Jammu)
Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir is now becoming a point of debate between the Union Home Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir government over the treatment of an 18-year-old suffering from a terminal illness.Eighteen-year-old Vipul suffers from cryptochidism, a terminal disease, and needs Rs 20 lakh for treatment.The state government had sanctioned Rs 14 lakh in 2001 but now refuses to pay more. Last year Vipul's father, a Class 4 state government employee, wrote a letter to the President who forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry. In May this year, the MHA asked the state government to do the needful. But the letter from state government said it is not bound to comply with the Centre's order according to Article 370. ''This is our fundamental right. Article 370 is meant for other purposes, not for this. It should be meant for saving life not taking it,'' said Ashok Kaul, Vipul's father.In 1991, the Kauls' migrated from Srinagar when militancy was at its peak. Soon Vipul was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder.He was operated twice at AIIMS in Delhi and has since been taking costly medicines.''The officer who wrote the letter can be punished. We will try and extend all possible help. Whatever the Chief Minister can do will be done,'' said Mangat Ram Sharma, Minister, Health and Medical Education.The family is now sincerely hoping that the minister delivers on his promise.
Vipul Kaul's mother Smt. Usha Kaul
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