Kidney donation did not pay off for him

HYDERABAD: Dreaming of a life free of debts and a desire to ensure one square meal a day for his family led K Ratnakar to donate his kidney over a year ago. But on Thursday, he was arrested along with 12 others when the police busted one of the biggest kidney rackets in the state.
Ratnakar, a fish vendor at Gudimalkapur, sold his kidney for Rs 60,000 to repay his creditors.Though he was paid the promised money, it was not even enough to repay his debts. A a result, his family comprising wife, two daughters and mother, still live in abject poverty.
“The proposal to sell a kidney was put forward by a woman while he was selling fish. My husband then told me we could clear all our debts as he would be paid a huge amount and also that he would still be healthy. Convinced that it was for his own good and as we did not have another option, I agreed,� his wife Rama said on Friday. Rama does not know which hospital her husband was taken to for the operation, but said she could identify the woman who approached her husband.
“Though he had a problem walking initially after the operation, he was hale and hearty again in a couple of weeks,� Rama said. Ratnakar went back to selling fish.
The Ratnakar family moved to Hyderabad from Srikakulam about years ago and is living in a rented house. The Rs 45 the bread-earner was bringing home everyday is not enough to meet expenses. His elder daughter, Harika, 8 was admitted to a local school and Pavani, 4 was growing up. Ratnakar’s mother, Rajeshwaramma, said the family has been literally starving since his arrest and Harika could not go to school as the fee has not been paid.
“I hope he is not harmed. My son is innocent and donated the kidney to take care of us,� Rajeshwaramma said.