Bengal’s paraplegic veterans show off skills at Pune centre

Kolkata: Mridul Ghosh from Murshidabad may have dabbled in colours as a pastime but his primary career was in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Airman Ghosh is a

paraplegic

today after meeting with an accident. He is still unable to use his limbs but leaves those at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (

PRC

) at Pune awestruck when he picks up the paintbrush with his mouth.

He is not alone. There are five others like him from

Bengal

at PRC, Pune, who suffered injuries to their spines during operations, exercises or training.

“The group includes Sep Md Habibur Rahman, Sep D K Giri and Naik Anup Mondal from Murshidabad. Sep T K Roy is from Bankura and Hav D K Lama is from Darjeeling. While Ghosh paints, another one is a swimmer of national fame. A veteran plays the flute and another from the state works at a call centre. The Bengal government has paid Rs 6 lakh to PRC, Pune, for the six. Those from other states have received much more,” said a veteran official.

As per Recruitable Male Population (RMP), Bengal ought to be fourth in the list of states contributing soldiers to the country’s armed forces. However, thanks to a lack of facilities, it is sixth in the list.

“Bengal loses out on employment opportunities by not helping youths in joining the forces. There are no Zilla Sainik Boards in 10 districts. Kalimpong that has a large number of veterans and serving soldiers is one of them. The rule to give reservation to ex-servicemen during recruitment in the state police was not followed and the Rajya Sainik Board has taken up the matter. Veterans can also be recruited on a contract basis at Public Health Centres in rural areas after they return home and settle down in villages,” said another retired official.

The Rajya Sainik Board also doesn’t have a permanent address of its own and has now written to the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) for space on St George’s Gate Road.