Anantnag: A Family in south Kashmirs Anantnag district has been left in an abject poverty by dreaded cancer disease.
Zaiba Begum, 75 year old widow in Batengoo Anantnag lost her husband and only son to this dreadful disease in 2010 within a span of three months. Both deaths have shattered the life of Zaiba who lives with her paralyzed daughter Lateefa Jan (28) in an abject poverty.
Zaibas husband Mohammad Shaban Bhat was diagnosed with food pipe cancer in April 2009 and died in March 2010. His only son Mushtaq Ahmad also died due to liver cancer in June 2010 barely three months after the death of his father.
The death of both male members in the family has left the Zaiba shattered.
Recollecting her memories, Zaiba she says that her son Mushtaq left the studies due to poverty to work at local ironsmith shop to help the family overcome financial constraints.
We were living a normal life untill my daughter became paralyzed in 2002. She was even operated in Chandigarh hospital, but she remained paralyzed even after surgery.
My late husband and son worked very hard for the treatment of my daughter. But even providing her with best treatment, didnt cure her disease and she became paralyzed for life.
Then the biggest tragedy fell to her when in 2009 her husband was diagnosed with cancer. He died in March 2010. Barley after three months his only son Mushtaq also died of liver cancer leaving poor Zaiba, a diabetic, with her paralyzed daughter to fend on their own.
Her monthly income is Rs 500 which a local Yateem Trust gives her.
Out of Rs 500, she has to spend Rs 320 on medicine in month.
Her neighbours have requested the government to provide help to the family .
The family is in a very difficult situation. We try our best to help as much as we can, but we ourselves are not so well off, so that we can support her completely. We request the authorities to lend them a helping hand so that they can lead a better life, said a neighbour Ghulam Muhamamd Bhat .
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
