Destitute due to lockdown, rickshaw puller tried to trade his son for his daughter's treatment; gets treated for free at the end

Shyamal Das moved to Silchar from Ambasa in Tripura a year back in search of work. He earns money by driving rickshaw in Tarapur area. However, recently it was revealed that he wanted to sell one of his children. His second child was born eighteen days ago. The girl child was suffering from a birth defect and her parents are with her at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. However, at one time he was unable to afford for her treatment, not even the daily food. He begged many for help but none came forward. Extremely frustrated and angry, he told the security guards at the hospital that if anyone bought his first son for a price, he would be willing to sell him. On asking whether he won’t have any attachment or propinquity towards his son in the future, he broke down to hysterical tears. This time the principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, MLA Dilip Kumar Paul and other social workers of the area came forward to help him.

After the incident was widely shared on social media, the staff of Medical College and Hospital first came forward, collected as much money as they could and handed it over to Shyamal Das. Some social workers of the valley also joined in. Although some money was raised, the problem still persisted. Doctors advised the young girl to be shifted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital for better treatment. Shyamal Das had no answer how he would go to Guwahati with his wife and children or how much could he afford for her treatment as a matter.

Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, principal of Silchar Medical College Hospital extended a helping hand. He contacted the Guwahati Medical College authorities and arranged for her free treatment. He also assured that he would get a free ambulance for them to travel from Silchar to Guwahati.

Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul also rushed to the Medical College and Hospital on Friday after receiving the news and extended a helping hand for the treatment of Shyamal Das’ daughter. “We have various government projects through which it is possible to help this family. We all helped him initially but the goal is to persistently continue the treatment in the future,” he said.

The members of the Hailakandi Sammilani in Silchar first stood by Shyamal Das. They spread the word on social media so that people could know about their miserable plight and stand by their family. Speaking on behalf of the Sammilani, Pallabita Sharma said, “In today’s society where daughters are considered black sheep of their family, female foetuses are being killed everyday, daughters are thrown in the dustbins on the roadside; Shyamlal Das and his wife became an exception and even tried to sell their son for saving their daughter. They showed our civilised society that daughters are not garbage to be thrown in dustbins. We are by their side.”

Many are standing by Shaymlal Das’ family which is giving them courage to go to Guwahati for treatment. But the only fear in his mind is that maybe it’s too late now. Speaking to Barak Bulletin he said, “A fear has engulfed my mind if I can save the child at all. Many people are helping now and they are promising to stay by me in the future as well. I am relieved. But I have only one fear in my mind if it’s is too late now for treatment. I don’t know if I can save the girl but I will make a last effort. There was a time when we had no food. We were given some of the food that came to hospital for other patients. ”

Speaking about his financial condition he said, “I came to Silchar from Ambasa in Tripura a year ago. I drive a rickshaw here. But the lockdown is responsible for my destitute condition. I used to earn around 500 rupees a day but that completely came to a hault because of lockdown. The situation has changed now yet I don’t get more than 200 rupees a day. The prices of goods is skyrocketing. We have one child and another just got born. We were still moving ahead but God made our life a little harder. My little daughter was born with a birth defect, the treatment of which simply doesn’t exist in Silchar. I begged for help from many people but no one came forward. At one point I felt so angry and sad that I wanted to destroy everything. I even consulted a few people to sell my son to a well-to-do family which doesn’t have a child. It would make his life better and I would be able to treat my daughter. The circumstances made me think like that or else which father would want to seperate from his son.” He broke to tears while speaking those words.