Rights panel orders officials to release aid for tribal youth

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has asked the district tribal officer and the Department for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development to release financial assistance to a tribal youth who recently underwent intestinal surgery at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.

Commission acting Chairperson P. Mohanadas issued an order to this effect after he received a complaint on Wednesday. The medical college superintendent was asked to provide details about the treatment and department officials were asked to provide details about the funds released, in three weeks. Subrahmanian of Pulikkandi tribal colony at Karyampady near Vythiri in Wayanad has been undergoing treatment at the hospital. He is yet to get financial assistance as his name has not been included in the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. It was pointed out that he was not able to pay for various tests and scanning. The hospital superintendent was asked to ensure that Mr. Subrahmanian gets all the benefits.

The Department of Agriculture was asked to look into the complaints that bed-ridden and terminally ill patients were not getting farm pension. The Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department was asked to complete the work on the Vadakara-Mahe bridge before the onset of the monsoon. The Commission also received a demand to allow entry of invalid carriages for the disabled into S.M. Street, Mr. Mohanadas said.