Puja platter provides for blind boy's cure

KOLKATA: The Bhowanipore Durgotsab Samity of south Kolkata will help bring a ray of light to life of a five-and-ahalf-year-old blind boy.
The puja committee is using part of its funds generated during the recent Durga pujas to pay for Debasish Sarkar''s treatment.
"The funds collected during the Durga Puja and the proceeds from the sale of jute articles used for decorating the pandals are being used to provide financial assistance for the boy''s treatment," said Bhowanipore Durgotsab Samiti general secretary Utpal Roy.
He, along with the child''s family, are boarding the train to Hyderabad on Thursday to meet surgeons at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute.
Son of a daily labourer from Sargachhi, Murshidabad, Debasish is suffering from congenital glaucoma.
"He has a problem since he was seven months old. After a bout of pneumonia and diarrhoea, we took him to a local doctor on seeing white spots in his right eye," recalled mother Suchitra Sarkar.
From then on, it was an arduous journey for the Sarkar family. Nitai Sarkar, Debasish''s father, was the sole earning member and had to spend his daily income of Rs 75, sell his wife''s jewellery and pawn his household goods to treat his son at NRS hospital in Kolkata.
From there he was referred to Medical College and Hospital in January this year, where after an operation, Debasish''s retina was severely damaged.
Crestfallen, the Sarkars approached a Bengali television channel and narrated their tale.
Seeing the family''s plight, Bhowanipore Durgotsab Samity decided to pitch in. The Samity has donated Rs 35,000 as initial costs and has also opened an account for the child.
They have collected Rs 21,000 so far. "We will bear all further expenses for the child''s treatment," said Roy.