Saved from the Verge of Darkness

Philipose Vaidyar

Amritlal lives in a village in the Champa district of Chattisgarh and belonged to Kanwar community that worked as labourers and cultivators. Though he had half an acre of field of his own, the paddy from that would barely be enough for four months for his family. He had to work in the farms of others to earn for a living and to develop his own field.

Some years ago he got hurt on his right eye while his son played with him. The eye lost vision and looks damaged. To add to it, he was affected with Leprosy which he ignored in the daily busy work of winning the bread. Later he realized that he was gaining complications with his left eye too. He could not close the eye even while sleeping.

Life seemed getting darker before him. But coming in contact with CADIP programmes in the village saved him from falling into utter darkness! The CADIP project staff referred Lal to the TLM hospital at Champa. Eventually he had a reconstructive surgery done for his left eye lid (for Lagophthalmos) and completed his course of leprosy treatment. Lal is is happy that he did not loose his vision and can clsoe his eye. He is thankful to the TLM team and the doctors who skillfully did the surgery on his eye. His yellow coloured hospital registration card with the number 2255 and dated year 2005, was carefully kept in a transparent pouch. It also had the business card of the CADIP project coordinator.

Lal also was able to get a Disability ID card with the help of the CADIP project. His ID card records 50% disability, which gives him some hope that it will be of help some day. He learned about self care and has been practicing it himself. Though he has nerve paralysis on his hands and feet, they looked healthy and had no signs of the decease. Amrit Lal and his wife are happy that the CADIP project personnel visited their village at the right time to keep them in light.

philjy[at]gmail[dot]com

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