Good news from Balaji

Wordjunkie sent in this report:



Balaji's job with CMW is confirmed. He starts from today , at a salary of Rs 7000 pm., as a sanitation worker. His youngest brother now drives the rickshaw, while the middle brother is back in the village. So there is some income coming in.



I discussed his need for a visit to the ortho, but he felt he wouldn't get a day off just yet, this being a new job, but would inform me in advance if he could get a day off later on. He is in some discomfort, but I understand his need to get the job going first. So we could identify a doctor for him, but hold off taking an appointment just yet.



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Update on Balaji

This just came in from Wordjunkie:



Have been in touch with Balaji and he called me today to say that:

1.. He can't work everyday, as his knee gives him a lot of trouble. His doctor has asked him to find a good 'bone doctor' . Can we quickly help him there?

2. He's getting the run around from the Railways office. His case has still to reach the appropriate office. He's been told he will get a job with something called the CMW dept at MMRDA. Couldn't get more from him on this, but he's forced to spend a whole working day going to VT, only to be sent back.

3. Neither of his brothers has a job yet, He continues to be the main bread winner...still!!!

4. He has been borrowing money to run the house.



Is there some job we could organize for him until he gets his CMW job? Driving an auto can hardly be comfortable, or even safe for him, with a bad knee, and a problem with the nerves in one hand.



Anyone who could help in anyway, please do write in at indiahelps@gmail.com urgently.



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Update on Balaji

This from Wordjunkie:



I spoke with Balaji. Some good news - The Taj trust contacted him and representatives have visited him at home. They have said they will help one of his brothers find a job.. Balaji himself expects to get a job with the railways, though he is unclear when this will come through. He expects some response around April.



Also, Balaji mentioned that he had some pain and swelling in his knee awhile ago. This seems to have eased up, but he may need another visit to a doc.





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Update on Balaji

This filed in by Orangejammies:

Hi all,
Just spoke with Balaji and here's the gist of the conversation:
1. He says his physical discomfort is now better, with the exception of a nagging numbness behind his knee that is worrying him, lest it turn dangerous later. He brought up this concern several times during the course of the conversation.
2. He has been offered a job with the railways and went to the requisite office to see the in-charge, who told him that he needed to present an 8th or 9th std. pass certificate and S.S.C. fail wouldn't do as a qualification. He asked her if he's still get the job if he delayed submitting the application by 2 weeks, to which she responded that he would. I offered help with filling up the form and accompanying him to the railways if he needed assistance, but he said he would manage. He has been working a little, but not a full day's work and seems keen on this railways job.
3. He is still the only income earner in the family, with the brothers still unemployed and the women unwilling to pull their weight financially. I offered to find out about tailoring and other vocational courses but I could tell there was a wall. He appeared resigned to being the sole supporter of 11 people.
4. Gently asked him about PTSD symptoms, to which he replied he is not afraid or upset anymore because his parents are looking after him (I guess he meant their souls/spirits are watching). Suggested a psychiatrist, should he feel the need for one, and spoke about several people requiring assistance after such a traumatic event, but he assured me he is fine, so I suppose I'll let Dr. Seema Rao know that this particular victim will not be seeing her.
5. He is going to his hometown (Latur) on the 28th to finish a religious ritual that his mother had begun and will be there for at least a week to 10 days. During this time, he will also visit his school and obtain a pass certificate for his job.
6. The children in the family are all well and going to school.
7. I have asked him to give me a missed call on his return so I can call him back and we can address two specific issues:
a) The nerve numbness in his leg, if it is still prevalent and requires a medical professional to look at it. I asked him to give his body some time to heal and we would address the issue again in the middle of February if symptoms persisted.
b) Follow up on his job application.

That's that for now.

About Mohd. Rahim Ansari: tried calling again, phone kept ringing. Will try tomorrow.


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Balaji Kharatmal's consultation at Hinduja

Sangeeta, an India Helps team member, kindly accompanied Balaji to his consultation with Dr Chandiramani at Hinduja Hospital. Thanks nomad for organising the appointment at such short notice.
Here's her report:

I met Balaji and his sister at Hinduja. They had 3 major issues:

Is it safe to carry these pellets - will it cause more infection - when will it come out

His LHS index finger did not have the strength to press the gears and hence he cannot drive the autorickshaw

He does get a sensation of throbbing on his LHS back side


Dr Chandiramani said that you cannot keep going after these pellets .They are lead ones and they get sterilised as they enter the body because of the heat generated. The body will get them near the sub cutaneous tissue on its own. Once there, doctors will do a minor cut and remove it. It may even come out on its own through the skin surface - in which case Balaji can just remove it. The body will push this out on its own. However, it does not cause harm if it remains in the body -- cannot chase each pellet.

For his finger :the sensation, power, movement all normal

Discontinue all medications

All wounds have healed satisfactorily.

Balaji can resume work now.

Balaji should come after 3 months- April 2009 - for a further consultation. About the back wound, the pellets seem to be moving out but will be better if we give the body the time to push it out more.


The doctor asked and I said we were a group called India Helps and are doing what we can. He refunded his fees - Rs 650. Hinduja kept Rs 150 for making the card. The card is with Balaji. I gave the family Rs 800 and asked Balaji to focus on eating eggs, bananas and building strength and resuming his work.

All is well and he just has to have confidence. I did counsel substantially - let hope he starts work soon.

Thank you, Sangeeta.

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