#CharityChance : Fluorosis Victim gets his Livelihood!

Fluorosis is a painful condition caused due to excessive ingestion of F through water (primarily).

Edupula Chinna Saidulu is a 28 years old man from a small village called Neralapally of Nampally Mandal, Nalgonda. He has been a skeletal fluorosis victim since 2006. The groundwater in his village has F levels as high as 6 ppm (permissible limit is 1.5 ppm), which is very toxic.

In DEC'2016, the Police Department of Nalgonda under the leadership of the then S.P Sri Prakash Reddy garu organized a huge health camp called 'Janmaitri'. Saidulu was identified for a possible recorrective surgery and subsequently received treatment from CARE, Nampally. His operation costed around Rs.5 Lakh and this was funded by both SP garu and CM Relief Fund. Saidulu also received Rs.1000/- every month from the Police Department until Feb'18.

Saidulu after his surgery

Saidulu has two children of 3 yrs and 4 yrs. His wife works as a daily wage laborer and struggles to make ends meet.

I met Saidulu when I joined DFMC, around Apr'2017 and we were asked to help him in Livelihoods. He was receiving physiotherapy at the time. How can we help a man who is learning how to walk again? For a while, we were lost as well.

The Telangana Govt's Sheep Distribution Scheme comes as a blessing. Saidulu, being a member of the 'Golla' community received the sanction, under which he receives Rs.70,000/- subsidy and has to pay Rs.31,250/-. This was great! But, where will Saidulu ever arrange Rs.31,250/- from?

Subash ji and Prasad ji, (let's say our super committed community outreach team) wanted to help Saidulu and they reached out to me in Jan 2018. I wrote letters(mailed) to 3 people seeking help. And we got help!

Helping Hands Humanity came forward and sponsored Rs.2250/-
Trinath Sirikonda, my friend sponsored Rs.25,000/- as a wedding gift to his friend Mr. Barghav.
And Saidulu saved his pension amount of Rs.4,000/-

Saidulu and his family with the Sheep units

So far so good right? But not everything was easy on field. I guess, every good deed has its quota of challenges. Saidulu lives in a remote village and my sponsors were in different countries. Saidulu uses a dabba phone, how do i get information of cash transfers? What are his bank details? He was still using a SBH account!! I spoke to the Bank Manager who was super helpful. I spoke to the Sheep Association President, who helped Saidulu receive his units. And our dear PD, DRDA sir who immediately ensured that Saidulu gets his deserving Pension amount with no delay. EE, RWS Papa Rao Sir is a constant support to the team. Most importantly, Sri Gaurav Uppal, Collector Sir was and is a pillar of support.

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A lot of work has gone behind enabling his livelihood. And we hope his sheep rearing booms.

Amidst all this i cant help but wonder, where are we heading?! A shepherd community member himself has no sheep and has to depend on the Govt for sheep!