Himachal girl in pain, seeks mercy killing from President of India

Palampur: Miss Seema Sood, a post graduate engineer (Gold Medalist ) from B.I.T.S Pilani ( Rajsthan ) in a letter addressed to President of India have appealed for mercy killing as she was confined to one room for the past thirteen years being bed ridden as her all joints of body were affected with arthritis. Her keen hips, shoulders and elbow were almost dead. Her wrist, fingers of hand and feet have no movement.

When writer visited Miss Seema Sood at here residence in village Tika Aima this evening, Seema who belonged to a poor family told that in the absence of any treatment her condtion had gone from bad to worse in past ten year, now she was no more willing to survive in the present circumstance. She said she was operated upon nine years back for knee ailment but the surgery had shown no improvement. Now the doctors had suggested her for the knee replacement, that requires over rupees ten lakh, which she was not in a position to pay as her mother was living from hand to mouth .

In tears Seema said that her father had died in the year 2000 and her mother was over seventy years old. Her only brother was serving in cooperative department drawing meager salary, he is in no position to bear such a heavy expenditure.

Fed up with the situation she has requested permission by the President of India to leave this world. She said there was none on this earth to take care of her. Today she was being looked after by her aged mother. In choking voice, Seema said she was in very miserable condition, without movement for the past many years, she could not even jump in the river or speeded train. She was confined to one room 10 feet by 12 feet for the past thirteen years.

Seema said she was fed up with this life because of endless pain, disease and humbly pray the President of India to grant her mercy killing.

Enquiries made by this reporter further revealed that Seema had requested the Himachal Pradesh government three year ago for financial help but failed to get any reply. Even she also wrote a letter to the then Chief Minister Vir Bhadara Singh, but none came for her rescue. Now her condition had gone from bad to worse and today she was not even fit for any more surgery.

Meanwhile local MLA Parveen Sharma called on her at her residence today and asked Seema to withdraw her appeal for mercy killing as Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would bear all expenses of her treatment. He assured that he had already spoken to the Chief Minister in this regard.

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15 Comments

  1. Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that the State Government would be bearing all the expenses of treatment of Ms. Seema Sood of village Sughar in Palampur sub-division of district Kangra, suffering from rheumatic arthritis in any of the recognized best of the medical institutions of the country and extend all possible assistance to help her lead medically, socially and economically a normal life. He said that the case was recommended for financial assistance by Shri Shanta Kumar, Ex-Chief Minister, recently and a sum of Rs. 1.00 lakh had already been released as immediate relief to the ailing lady.

    Chief Minister also took cognizance of the news item appearing in the print media today and directed the authorities to assist the family obtain estimate for complete treatment after proper check up and diagnosis by the specialized medical authorities so that required funds were sanctioned and made available to the concerned institution directly. He said that he considered it moral responsibility to rise to the call of the under privileged and weaker sections of the society and make best efforts to deliver them maximum relief possible within the resources at his command. He said that social welfare sector had always been on the top agenda of the State Government and during current financial year also major chunk of the annual plan had been earmarked for the same to carry social welfare services extensively to benefit every eligible person under different programmes under implementation in the State.

    Prof. Dhumal said that large number of applications had been pouring in from all parts of the State for obtaining financial assistance for medical examination, operation, medicines and marriage of daughters and all out efforts were being made to provide them reasonable financial assistance. He said that the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund created was aimed at providing such needy and poor people financial assistance to meet their social obligations and cater to their dire health requirements. He thanked the donors for liberally contributing towards the fund which was a real pious service towards the suffering humanity and appealed to the people to donate liberally out of their hard earned income towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund so that more people were benefitted. He said that contribution made towards the Fund was exempted under income tax provisions.

    1. says: bk`

      respected dhumal ji
      she is in great pain and wakness and is unable to move about. the result of surgery is not upto theexpectations . she need thausands of rupees for her post operative expences. she need financial freedom .how long govt. can support her.how long she will look towards others hands . she need permanent source of income. she has requested to allot a gas acency for her secured future. kindly sanction the same for her secured and hurdlefree (financial) future life

  2. says: sarika katoch

    I’ld like to say thanks to media with whom efforts seema ‘ll be able to see the new dimensions of life. plz tell me seema how I can help you?

  3. says: SANDEEP CHAUDHARY

    dear seema myself and my sister are both pass outs from BITS. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A HELPING HAND TO U. ALSO I WOULD REQUEST ALL MY CONTACTS WHO HAVE PASSED OUT FRO BITS TO JOIN HANDS TO HELP.

    GOD BLESS U
    SANDEEP CHAUDHARY

  4. says: Vikram Dwarakanath

    Seema, I am a BITS passout (1996 batch). I am ready to extend financial assistance, and also any other logistical assistance that you may need since my family does a lot of work in this area. Please let me know how I can reach you. My email address is [email protected].

  5. says: Amjad

    Hi Seema, The entire BITSian community is with you to extend any sort of help you would need. I hope some of us are already in touch with you. We all pray for your speedy recovery and escape from your ordeal.

    -Amjad (’96 batch)

  6. says: Ravi Penikala

    Hi Seema, I am moved by this bad news and ready to extend help as needed to see you recover as quickly as possible. Please let me know how I can help you. Send mail to me at [email protected]. I will be calling you soon to get in touch with you.

  7. says: Rajneesh

    That’s horrible. If there is some mobilisation through My Himachal group then may be lots of people can contribute something out of their capacity. No one would like to lead such a life with no hope of treatment and recurring medical expenses. The government must allocate some regular financial aid or something that helps the victim or family bear the crisis or to have the medical treatment. please float a helpdesk number or details of patient so that anyone with willingness to contribute can do something.

    I also wish to contribute with my capacity or can ask people within my circle to extend their support. But how do we get the details or address where we can send collective funds?

  8. says: Rev. Dr. Aaron

    The God whom i believe can take you out of all your ailment and long suffering. The thing which is impossible by the worldly doctors is possible through Him. When you call on His name (Jesus) he is ready to heal you 100%. Because He is the only one who shed His blood for us on the cross, and is still alive. He healed me when doctors left me hopeless, He can do it for you too. Believe and pray, victory is yours. May you be Healed. I will keep praying for you. Mb: 09435155425 Assam

  9. says: wajid bhatt

    hi seema
    i am wajid a LLB student . I am gonna take up this matter in my university and i assure you’ll not be denied justice.

  10. says: RIYA VERMA

    HII,,,, SEEMA DI ,,,,, PLZ ONLY GOD CAN HELP U ,,,, PLZ BELIEVE IN GOD ND ALWAYS PRAY TO LORD KRISHNA ,,,, ME SURE GOD WOULD U RELIEF SOON …..ND PLZ READ GITA ,,,,, ME SURE U FEEL GUD …. GOD BLESS U DI …. FROM RIYA

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