After rats eat up cash for surgery, Telangana minister offers help to farmer

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, July 18

It has been a roller coaster ride for Redya Naik, a vegetable farmer from Vemunur village in Mahabubabad district.

Hard-earned money, some borrowed as a loan totalling Rs 2 lakh, was chewed up by rats from the almirah where he had hidden the money collected for surgery.

After his story went viral in local media and banks refused help, Telangana Minister for Tribal, Women, and Child welfare Satyavathi Rathod today offered to take care of the expenses for his abdominal surgery.

After saving up for months by selling vegetables on a two-wheeler, Naik got the shock of his life when he saw currency notes in the denomination of Rs 500 cut to pieces and some even eaten away by rats. “I had kept the currency notes in a cotton bag, but after the date of the surgery was finalised, I opened the bag and was shocked to see the destruction”.

In a panic, Naik went to a local bank to exchange the notes, but the bank officials refused to oblige. His journey from bank to bank in Mahabubabad started, but to no avail.

Finally, upon hearing the man’s plight, Telangana Minister for Tribal, Women and Child welfare Satyavathi Rathod has come forward with help. She assured Naik that she would arrange for his surgery in any hospital that he desired and would also provide financial assistance.

The Mandal Revenue Officer has meanwhile been sent to Naik to assure him that he should be helped. Naik requires some Rs 4 lakh for the surgery to remove the lump from his abdomen. The Rs 2 lakh had been collected from savings and loans from relatives and friends.

The minister hails from the same district and has announced her unconditional help for his medical treatment.