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The doctors it seemed did not want to take on what would become a police case. So 2 hospitals turned her away.
Absolutely monstrous. So much for the Hippocratic (hypocritical) oath.
The inlaws in meantime found out and I suppose they were worried about an investigation. So they actually came to the hospital and paid her expenses for a month --
Very weird, considering that they wanted rid of her. Perhaps they thought they'd be less likely to be accessories to murder if they made a show of it, at that point.
Yes, I thought the same thing - it is remarkable that Roopa's family took her back. She is lucky in that way, only.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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Sirensongs edited this topic 70 months ago.
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My god my god my god. Is there anything we can do, anything at all?
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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miss.cybrarian edited this topic 70 months ago.
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Let's start with Roopa herself - is there anything we can do for her?
I know the parents do not want local media swarms - but perhaps an international story - even on a small scale, like to my hometown paper - could help raise money for her treatment.
Sounds like she needs a complete esophageal reconstruction and a new stomach, perhaps. That is big money.
It could work, I raised $200 US for a Nepali friend just by writing a blog about their situation. - ?
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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Sirensongs edited this topic 70 months ago.
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"At least one an hour." That's more than 8,000 young girls dying like this every year. How much pain is that? Year after year. Young girls, marriage, togetherness, children, love, affection, brutality, insane, hate, greed, murder, death. Tears and more tears turn to compassion, turned to action, to turned around. Please.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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emptyness0 edited this topic 70 months ago.
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Matthew, by Amnesty International's estimate in 2002 there are actually 15000 a year. By the Indian NGOs' more recent estimates there maybe 28000-30000 a year. But the national government statistics show about 8000 (only the reported cases).
@Sirensongs -- Yes -- if Roopa is to get an esophageal reconstruction and a new stomach -- that would not only be big money -- but I'm not sure if they can even do it here in Calcutta. (or India?) I will run your ideas by them. And they also said they will let me know what the doctors here tell them next week.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Rita, I think telling this storr has done more for helping than weeks of debating and sharing pictures on the group. Yet if I follow my feelings after hearing her story, just now I cannot really talk.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I never going to find words for this or be able to understand how people can do this.
I hope she survives.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Im with Kinginexile here. A photo says more than thousands word. In my eyes thats not true for most photos, but these pictures are big time. I will invite some of my contacts to see these and read the story.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Is is possible we can setup a funds collection initiative for this girl? I mean we can go about spreading the word to everyone we know and ask for funds and send it to her. It may not be much but could be better than nothing.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Rita will let us know what the doctor says, and if anyone has a connection with doctors or hospitals who could be good samaritans, in their own countries, then who knows. One step at a time, and let's hear what are the next news from Rita about Roopa's diagnostic.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I agree with Hervé/kinginexile about the strenght of this story and these pictures.
In another hand , what Rita said is very important, and if we have to help Roopa in all the ways possible, I think HER case, envolving those precise religious references, can't be THE case that may be we have to find to be the standard bearer of the campaign. If we really need one. I don't know...
Posted 70 months ago.
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Bruno Trematore [deleted] says:
Hi, I got an SMS from Rita.
She says that because of heavy rain and flooding in Calcutta, she has no electricity (and internet). She will connect as soon as she can when the problems are solved.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Oh my goodness ... how awful ... as skypecaptain says, the photos say so much - the facts are plain to see.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Spreading the news over the net and word of mouth can certainly help in raising funds. This is a terrible incident. Irrespective of caste or religion, that family has to be brought in front of law. But the permanent solution to such problems faced by Indian women is education, a proper one and very strict action by the Government. There should be rigorous punishment for those who commit such crimes, to set an example for others not to even think about it.
Can we do something, like an Demand Draft sent over to that girl or to someone, like an NGO, anything?
Posted 70 months ago.
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but I'm not sure if they can even do it here in Calcutta. (or India?)
Probably not - my thought was to handle the whole thing overseas (yes it's expensive). But that would also eliminate a lot of unsavoury publicity for her and the family.
A few times a year, I read in the papers of doctors (often foreign doctors) who do drastic surgeries like this for free as a sort of seva. I bet we could come up with a surgical team in the west somewhere that would do this procedure for cost or free. Most westerners don't even know about these situations and are so horrified they are shocked into caring and helping when they can.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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It's good to read that some doctors do drastic surgeries for free, it's a little light in all this dark affair !
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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At the end: If we start finding excuses because of religion, we will never do nothing in India!!!
The case is truly humanitarian, a 14YO girl being tortured, and left for dead, it has all the resonances of much of what is a problem in India, we do not have to act ,double guessing ill-intentionned pundits. Here is a country aspiring to become a nation respected on the world stage, equal among its pairs, and who is realizing that religious hatred, blatant exploitation of its weaker denizens, will always set it back to a barbaric age it wants to escape.
By simply stating facts as Roopa's story, as internationally as possible, a mirror is held in front of indian people, and what they see is not what they think is projected, but more akin to a Dorian Gray portrait. You cannot simply decide you will be a great modern country alone, petting your tummy button in self-satisfaction. the world has to take notice. Be it China or India, not one iota has been made from great civilizations to great nation. It takes a little more than economic numbers and weapons of mass destruction for that.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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kinginexile edited this topic 70 months ago.
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I totally agree with you, religion is no excuse at all, and the case is truly humanitarian, that's why I wrote that we have to help Roopa in all the ways possible !
It's sound very good if a "a mirror is held in front of indian people", but what if it bring fire for religious reasons that we don't want to deal with ?
But may be you're right and we don't have to be preoccupied by that kind of stuff. And may be it's better "d'aller vers l'Orient compliqué avec des idées simples"...but I'm not sure ...
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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I'm really sorry guys for disappearing from the scene. But we've had 3 days of continuous rainfall in calcutta -- many areas are flooded --and of course most of the services are down including the internet.
1. The first thing I suppose is to figure out whether something can be done for Roopa at this stage. I'm still waiting to hear what the doctors her parents take her to (in a small government hospital) will say. I have contacted a few other doctors -- and it seems it's difficult for anyone to offer a medical opinion unless she is examined -- for the condition of her mouth, esophagus etc. I have contacted Interplast -- which I know does do some free plastic surgery on women and children in India -- usually for birth defects etc. But they say -- this is beyond their scope -- but they will look into their contacts to see if there is someone they know here in the City who can help.
2. I know the issue of funding has come up many times. The problem is that -- the process of going from an online awareness campaign to a properly set up organization will take time and preparation -- because it will have to go through the official channels of registration etc. But in case something can be done for Roopa and her surgery needs funds -- I am wondering if an online site for collecting funds can be set up? Matthew suggested www.paypal.com and I'll look into that.
3. Just from being in that neighborhood that day I can tell you what is already a big issue. She's considered by local standards to be an 'immoral' sort of girl who I think many think deserves what she got!!! When the parents brought her back home the first time and the mother was determined to put her in school -- the school refused to take her back saying she's a bad influence on the other girls.
4. But even without surgery -- they have expenses and they live in a shanty area and are not well off. So for eg. the ambulance cost to take the girl to the hospital for eg. is Rs 400/- each time. So a small fund will help them too. Feeding her horlicks through the tube or her medicines -- all this adds up and its a big expense for them. So what do you think we could do for that. I had thought initially that people could send them whatever they can afford $50/- or Rs.500/- or whatever. But the problem is --- and I know this because I get small checks for my writings in magazines in dollars and pounds and by the time I put it through the bank -- the bank charges conversion fees etc. and they've already deducted Rs300 to Rs400 in fees!! I know most have a minimum fee of Rs.280/- If $10 is Rs 430/- approx. and you deduct Rs.280/- from that there is not much left!! So what is the best way?
I DON'T KNOW WHEN NORMAL LIFE WILL RESUME WITH THE WATER LOGGING AND INTERNET SITUATION HERE -- SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Indian and muslims are quite able to live together. all this religious tension is whipped up by politicians and gangsters (often one and the same) on both sides. They do not need us to excite the crowds. And of course, i do not think that demagoguery is an oriental thing, or occidental one. Our simple idea here is to ask what sin did a 14yo commit to be maimed and murdered, and why there are thousands like her being atrociously mutilated or murdered every year? Even considering the "mysterious" Orient, that's a bit hard to swallow!
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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kinginexile edited this topic 70 months ago.
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You must have posted at the same time as me, Rita, I did not see your post until now. Let's se what thew doctor says, and tell us what kind of money we are talking about. we may have to pool our resources before sending, When there's a will, there's a way.
Posted 70 months ago.
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sad, so sad...
Posted 70 months ago.
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.
What surprised me about this case was that it was a love-marriage. Most of the dowry murders -- I'd say 99% are in cases of arranged marriages.
Love marriages are usually rare in the lower income groups -- but I suspect from another case I've heard about like this one. It's very puzzling -- because you'd think how can you do this to someone you fell in love with!
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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When I was child in Africa, in the Seventies, I heard a story about poor people who saved some money to pay an operation which was to mutilate their child ; because for begging a child could have more money than an adult, and if this child is mutilated he could win even more. Now I know it was true.
The problem with this campaign using this kind of image if this becomes a success , it could be almost an incentive for the poor families to mutilate their daughter.
When an image is horrible her power is higher , and being able to serve in any causes, in the horrible sense.
1- I don't question about the veracity of this testimony, I just want to think about the perverse effects of such a use of the image, acting on the emotion, at the point to quash the critical judgement.
2- I question about the problem of the image, and the way chosen to talk about something.
For me this is not an image of the indian culture, of the hindu religion, or of the consequence of a marriage.
3- These images show a young girl severely injured, who needs some help to survive because she comes from a poor family.
At last : Why do you expose these images? What would you want to tell us? What is your message?
Thank You.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I am completely ????? about your post Yolande? Please read that we want to help, you know: H E L P another human being.
let's not get back to these endless dicussions about this and that, that are all freakin' excuse to merely dip a toe in the water, get touchy-feely and go back to our normal routine.
All, let's leave the big 50M picture out of Roopa's predicament. It is not going anywhere, as we concentrate on helping her, and is best highlighted and confronted by such harrowing stories.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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kinginexile edited this topic 70 months ago.
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I'm also concerned about the desperate poor using this as a way to get money by mutilating their daughters. For this reason I propose that the money does not go to the family directly but through someone like Rita or, even better until a foundation can be set up, some umbrella non-profit foundation in India, US or wherever. When it comes to money no one trusts anyone very much let alone strangers and for the most part we are all strangers here. Make sure the money is only used for medical expenses or directly related items like necessary travel, medications, etc. Does anyone know of a non-profit that could take just this one issue on and deal with transferring donations to proper parties concerned. If we can't manage this then I think the idea of sending donations to one person in the US or somewhere where they can be pooled so we don't loose so much money with the exchange rate is a good idea. Any volunteers?
Posted 70 months ago.
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these concerns show that we need to establish very soon an NGO type foundation, which will be able to work on the terrain, and check facts journalistically as well as medically. Totally india-based, with international support.
Indeed, we cannot just throw money around, or directly to the family. This was not the idea, I'd think and would indeed gather sharks of the worse mettle.,.
I hope not, but I think we are soon going to be faced with the need to afford Roopa a surgery, moreover, in a foreign country. If I read Rita, this teenager will die if allowed to go on like this, too many opportunistic dieases can attack her frail body.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Yolanda --- I am not really clear on what it is that you are trying to say.
I've never heard of parents maiming their children in India just so they can get money. What you are seeing here is a criminal act, and the people involved have more reason to keep it hidden than to have it broadcast all over the net.
The fact of the matter is that in most dowry cases the victims generally refuse to speak up and be revealed. They remain nameless and faceless – just become an unknown number in the crime statistics of dowry murders. This is because the in-laws want to keep the matter hidden so they are not charged with the crime of attempted murder and the parents keep it hidden for even today in India the burden of shame falls on the victim. If a woman is raped – it is cause for her shame, and if she is maimed and tortured – it is cause for shame if she speaks against the family she has been married into!!!! However as long as these crimes remain hidden – and people don’t see that it is about really people and the horrors of the violence that has been inflicted on them – change won’t happen. If more women like Roopa had to courage to speak up and show their faces – we wouldn’t get to the point that we are at now. It now estimated that close to 30,000 die this way each year. And many more thousands are maimed for life. More so, if we did not put Roopa’s story on the net – we would not be able to reach out for help for her. She would just be another nameless statistic of dowry victims.
@Matthew -- You are right that a collection fund -- at a place where too much money is not lost in foreign exchange would be the best method. What I am doing right now is trying to find an organization that would volunteer to exclusively deal with Roopa's case. If they say we can cover -- such and such costs -- but not this and this -- then the next thing would be to find someone to make up that cost. That would be the most straightforward thing in Roopa's case. I just got an email from my cousin who is a doctor in New Jersey -- and he says that the surgery is possible he thinks in Delhi -- at a much lower cost than taking her out of the country (which would also entail a lot of red tape I think with the passport and visa). We are still approaching organizations for urgent help for Roopa. I think even if we set up a fund collection for her -- it would take time -- and think she need immediate help.
@kinginexile -- Yes, a foundation is the next step. But as I investigate the procedures for setting up a properly registered foundation in India -- I find that it is going to be long and involved. It took me 1 whole day -- and three trips to mail a letter to the U.S. from the local post office. The stamp counter opens at 7 a.m. but does not weigh the letter. The weighing counter opened at 10 a.m., and then I went back to the stamp counter. The cost was 110/- but they only had Rs.5 stamps. I did not want to plaster the face of the entire letter with stamps. So I was told to return again at 11 a.m. when the person who has the keys to the cupboard with the high value stamps would arrive! Just a small example of the process here!!! See the discussion sect. on "setting up an NGO" on the procedures I've found so far. Just that I don't know how old it is -- and is more complicated.
So we'll get on that bandwagon. But first lets get Roopa help.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I understand Yolande's POV, and of course she doesn't say she doesn't want to help, so not about her at all what I have to say, but one can recognize here the crux of most arguments to never get involved trying to help in India, which i have often talked about in threads, and that I have certainly uttered myself more than my share.
Many people simply do not believe in good samaritanship, and more than a few scoff at our sensitivity to such issues. They are the ones too sensitive to stick their fingers out and risk failure. They disguise their lack of courage behind selfishness parading as worldweariness, except they never had any reason to feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, even for one day in their lives.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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kinginexile edited this topic 70 months ago.
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So let's imagine that at some point very soon we can get Roopa an operation in Delhi. Furthermore we suppose some aid organization will pay a significant part of the bill. But we still need more money. How much can we raise? Who out there will give money or volunteer to work raising money from friends, family, strangers? Just 100 people raising and giving $100 is the significant amount of $10,000. I don't know how much this all will take but you get the idea. There are 1,274 members in this group. We could take a wild chance that the money would get through to the right people, that a hospital could save her life, that Roopa would be grateful for her life and help others speak up against this outrage. I'll pledge a $100 dollars to start with. We have to get this going on many fronts at once. We can't wait for all the pieces to be lined up in logical order. If any one has some good ideas please post them here. Even if all fails and everything goes wrong we will still have at least tried and at the very least be more prepared the next time. Who has a trusted name that will be willing to take the donations and write a check for the total sum collected and forward it to Rita? Obviously speed is of the essence. Matthew
Posted 70 months ago.
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Rita, as you have said she is being treated in a small Govt. hospital, so it's quite possible that the required expertise to judge Roopa's condition and assess the exact medical or surgical need, may not be available there.
To begin with, can a doctor / surgeon of suitable expertise be taken to check up Roopa and at least give his / her opinion about what is required to be done and where can it be done. Calcutta has doctors of international repute and i personally feel India does not lack in expertise or capability in handling such cases. The fees to pay the expert can be raised perhaps easily. Further steps to be taken can be decided subsequently.
Posted 70 months ago.
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@rufaro -- It's actually been only about a week that Rupa has been back with her parents -- and it's now that they are taking her to see the doctor. The first thing is to find a reputable hospital here that will be willing to give a medical opinion on her. And I have been contacting the big hospitals and am being told that it is not their field of 'expertise'. I suspect -- it's because its a criminal case. When the neighbors first tried to get her to a hospital -- the first two refused to even see her when they found out what had happened. I need somebody with some kind of authoritative weight here -- to compel a good hospital to see her. But first -- I am waiting till saturday -- at least to hear what this doctor who is seeing Roopa has to say.
Secondly, I really am not sure if the hospitals in Calcutta can really cope with this. My father passed away from cancer this year, and would you believe it -- there was only one hospital in Calcutta that could give him the radiation treatment he needed. We had to shuttle him everyday from the big hospital that he was at to the hospital that gave the therapy -- mainly because we could not afford the rooms in the hospital where the therapy was given.
Posted 70 months ago.
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In the meantime -- I have contacted as many people as possible -- international organizations, individuals, pop stars, and NGOs, and I would request you to do the same. Just write a letter as member of the group and explain the situation. I can send you my cover letter -- if you wish. Lars-Gunnar (@hobbe12) I know has written to SIDA (the Swedish Development Agency). And just this evening I got a contact number for a woman in Bangalore who recently made a film on women acid victims. I am waiting to hear from her. So please -- if there is a governmental organization or an agency or a movie or pop star in your country that you know is interested in women's or children's issues (roopa really is a child) -- then please write to them on behalf of the 50 million missing group.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I can not think of a reason why a hospital should not want to help only because the patient could have been victim of a criminal act?
Are they scared of bad publicity? What kind of bad publicty could that be? Its early in the morning and maybe Im just not thinking well enough.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Rita, Can you reproduce here, or make this cover letter a thread in itself, so people do not need to contact you, but can copy and paste, adding a few details of "local" corrections as they wish. It's a lot easier to write on a forum, than to be both formal and out-reaching at the same time for efficiency of response. Thanks.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Good idea -- here it is the general format of the letter. Please feel free to make any suggestions for alterations.
This is an urgent plea requesting help for a young, underprivileged girl of 17 years in Calcutta, who is a victim of the so called dowry violence in India. She had acid forced down her throat by her in-laws and is currently in need of immediate medical help.
I am representing an international online campaign group called "The 50 Million Missing" that raises awareness on various issues that impact on the survival of girl children and women in India -- specifically the issues of widespread female feticide, female infanticide and dowry murders. Early this week we received the case a young girl of 17 years, Roopa, whose in-laws had poured acid down her throat forcefully by holding her down. Roopa who can’t eat anything and has to be ‘fed’ through a tube in her stomach has become dangerously emaciated. She is in urgent need of surgery and good medical care. Our group, is desperately looking around for doctors or a hospital with a charity program who can help her, or some organization or foundation that can sponsor her medical expenses immediately. She comes from a poor family and cannot afford the expenses of a good hospital or the kind of extensive internal surgery that she will require. You can see her photos and read about her case under discussion at
www.flickr.com/groups/50_million_missing/discuss/72157602...
I thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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Thursday morning. My phone's dead again -- so the internet is down. I am hoping they'll fix it soon!
Roopa meets her doctor on Saturday.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I am speechless..even if I was informed about this kind of practice, it's always terrific to see a real people with a face a body, a name as a victim...the letter is a good idea, i think.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I have been away for a while, so I have not seen this post until today. This story is very scary. I really wish there is a solution not only for Roopa, but also for many women in similar circunstancies.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Hi Rita
I have, for the first time logged in to your column and the first news story i have come across is Roopa's....I am honestly speechless. Since you are involved with Amnesty so i guess you may have done the rounds already but please tell me if you have shared this story or other such stories with the television media in india?
I am based in New Delhi and do have a few friends in the media...i could take a shot at it and perhaps forward the news with images to them...getting this on air might help !! Please let me know...
God bless you for what you are trying to do !!
Anu
Posted 70 months ago.
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From this web site :
jagori.org/
Helplines For women in distress
Contact helpline@jagori.org for more information
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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In Calcutta :
www.swayam.info/work/policy.htm
Posted 70 months ago.
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I think that it is necessary to also call out the law, even in India all cannot be corrupted.
www.helplinelaw.com/docs/violence.php
India has adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both of which ensure that women are given equal rights as men and are not subjected to any kind of discrimination. The Constitution of India also guarantees substantive justice to women. Article 15 of the Constitution provides for prohibition of discrimination against the citizens on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth or their subjection to any disability, liability or restriction on such grounds. Article 15 (3) gives power to the legislature to make special provision for women and children. In exercise of this power, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was passed in 2005.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Thank you Yolande -- for all the website links you've provided. We'll try and sort through the helplines and contact the pertinent ones. Please, if you have time -- do also give us a little time and circulate our letter requesting help for Roopa among some groups and organizations.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I got the first medical report on Roopa which provides details of her condition right now. They will be doing more tests next wednesday. We also have list of medicines that she's been given so it makes it easier to start getting an approximation of her medical costs. The large cost would of course be surgery -- if they think it will help her. I also got a letter from the Chief Medical officer of Interplast -- who said, "From your note, it sounds like she has been well-taken care of so far, with enteral feedings via the gastric tube. I would anticipate that once her esophagus has healed as much as it will (which may be by now), that trying to introduce feedings by mouth can be started, and assuming that that is impossible, then trying esophageal dilatation could be done, which also might not be possible. If that is the case, then presumably she would be best served by a major operation involving either a gastric pull-up or bowel interposition to replace her esophagus."
Roopa's doctor will be doing more tests next wednesday I believe. But it sounds like progress??
Posted 70 months ago.
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Journalist Scott Carney did a report on Women who've been victims of acid attacks in India for the NPR (the National Public Radio), U.S.A. Oddly enough, most of these women were attacked not for dowry reasons but because they had rebuffed some man's advances. Essentially men who can't take rejection. The use of acid as weapon against women is a growing phenomenon in India. It seems to be replacing the old method -- dousing them with kerosene and setting them alight.
Read Scott's article here: www.scottcarneyonline.com/blog/2007/08/survivors-of-acid-...
(c) Scott Carney
See more of Scott's photos and reports on acid victims by clicking on the photo above.
In an email that Scott sent me about his involvement with women acid victims in India he said, "As for whether or not acid will replace kerosene as a weapon of choice---who knows. They're terrible both ways to hurt someone. The real issue is that police enforcement is lackluster. Officers often refuse to file the cases properly and there are reports that they knowingly report attempted murders as suicides in order to protect the perpetrators.
There is very little justice in the Indian legal system..."
Unfortunately -- that is the real problem. The levels of violence inflicted on women in India and female homicide -- have reached this unbelievable level because of the complete loss of law and order. It is not a cultural issue as much as it is an administrative one.
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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i suggest to contact the local MSF (medecins sans frontieres) office.
i will try to do so in Italy as soon as possible.
please rita let everybody know if there is a need for money-funds and a safe way wire money for this cause.
Posted 70 months ago.
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in india msf seem to have offices in delhi:
C-106 Defence colony
New Delhi - 110024 (India)
Tel. :
+91-11-2433 2419 / 7225
+91-11-4155 2413
thay do not seem to have an dedicated email, though.
Posted 70 months ago.
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i found few addresses of the "missionaries of Charity" (founded by mother Theresa of Calcutta):
1.
Mother house in India
Missionaries of Charity
54 A.J.C. Bose Road
Calcutta WB 700016
West-Bengal
India
033/2447115
2.
North America
Missionaries of Charity
335 East 145th Street
Bronx
New York 10451
U.S.A.
718/2920019
3
Missionaries of Charity
Gift of Love
1596 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
U.S.A.
415/5639446
they do not seem to have emails. The Calcutta address is the Mother House and here is another address:
Sr. Nirmala, mc, Superior General, Missionaries of Charity, 54A, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Calcutta 700 016, Phone: (091-033) 24497115, (091-033) 22175267 for Shishu Bhavan.
they do not seem to have an email address.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Dear Rupa: many prayers your way. Praying for strength for you and your family going through this. Do not give up and do not despair. Heal and please hold on to hope.
This will take more than one generation to wash off from the psyche of dowry 'rights'. For a billion strong population, material things to tout their status would start at a DVD/ VCR/TV given as dowry. Spiritual bankruptcy and material wants! As more women enter workforce and become financially independent, this hopefully could become a scourge of the past.
If we could start with educating the adult women- to watch out for every young girl/woman in their community. While they may be a mother-in-law, it could happen to their own daughter. The young girls have to be trained in schools and colleges to understand the danger and see it as a social evil ( when self-health and sex education in the US starts in elementary school). The new women will stand up and take it up as a fight within their own homes. They should be inspired in schools by the non-violent march and protests by Gandhi. Spirituality derived from simple things was the great Indian heritage that the other worlds craved.
The western world could flood the media there with messages that it is not hip to be violent and also put the expectation on the female role models (actresses, poetesses, authors-activists, politicians, female doctors, social workers, judges) . It does not help to know that India has an English speaking brilliant education system when you know that domestic violence is fisted out in the meanest degree inside their homes.
Then comes the date rape thing. Female abuse takes on other forms. And that would be bringing it on par with the western social-ills.
If we could all start with just a little love and light.
Posted 70 months ago.
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CENTRE FOR CARE OF TORTURE VICTIMES (CCTV)
P 501
Keyatala Road
KOLKATA 700 029
INDIA
Phone: 00 91 33 2465 7937
Mobile Phone: 00 91 98313 40102
Fax: 00 91 33 2465 7938
Email address: cctv@cal2.vsnl.net.in or c_cctv@yahoo.co.in
Website address: www.cctv.org.in
Established: 1997
This centre/programme is member of the IRCT
Network membership:
Director(s): Dr Subir Kr. Dutta, President; Mr Jayjit Ganguly, Secretary
Contact person(s): Mr. Jayjit Ganguly, Secretary; Ms. Minakshi Chaudhuri, Executive Secretary
Office hours: Daily: 10:00 - 17:00
Working language(s): English, Bengali, HindiCentre for Care of Torture Victims (CCTV)Centre for Care of Torture Victims (CCTV)
The CCTV's primary objectives are to:
* Identify, treat and rehabilitate victims of torture resulting from state-inflicted or consequent to insurgency or domestic or political conflicts, along with their near and dear ones.
* Open a centre/centres in different places inside and outside the State of West Bengal for the above purpose.
* Publish journals, bulletins and other printed materials in order to develop awareness and disseminate information to the general public and professionals on this subject.
* Conduct educational campaigns among the general public, medical and paramedical professionals, and administration staff in the country, for the treatment, physical as well as psychological, of torture victims and their families by cooperating with the government and/or various public bodies working with the same objective.
* Organise and hold meetings, seminars and conferences, individually or with the help of organisations having the same objective, including the state and central government, for raising awareness among government employees, political leaders, medical professionals and the general public.
* Consider and express views on all questions and laws to the state/central government, including proposed legislation pertaining to torture and torture victims, education on the subject, treatment and rehabilitation of torture victims and/or their families, and take steps or adopt measures regarding the same, as may be deemed expedient or necessary.
* Carry out and/or help in research related to torture victims.
* Collaborate with other local, regional, national and international
organisations, the government, United Nations or other national committees or statutory bodies to further the aim of the centre and receive all forms of assistance, including financial, from such bodies.
Posted 70 months ago.
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Thanks, I haven't heard of this group. But I will contact them and see what they have to say.
Posted 70 months ago.
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An Update on Roopa:
1) I have finally been able to communicate with her doctor (through a third party) -- and he seems optimistic about her recovery. But he says its going to be a slow process and could take 6 months as she undergoes tests and various procedures step by step. It also seems they have the facilities to operate on her at this hospital itself. The good news is that I've heard from reliable sources that he's a very capable doctor.
2) I spent a few hours on Sunday with Roopa at her home and she had told me earlier that she can read English. I had taken some story books for her and I was impressed with how well she reads. The first story was the English translation of a Japanese story about two frogs who live on either side of a mountain. She read the story with a some excitement -- and translated it for her parents into Bengali. Normally she is in so much pain that she sits hunched over her torso pressing against her thighs, and talks in monosyllables. But I realized that she not only likes reading -- but she is bright -- and the books take her mind off her pain. Next time I'll take more books for her. It would be a constructive channeling, indeed strengthening, of her mental and emotional energies. She's still traumatized -- and when at one point her father spoke of how she was unrecognizable when they brought her home -- caked with dirt because no one in her inlaws house had bathed her -- she started to cry. She obviously needs psychological counseling too.
3) As a group we are still trying to figure out how to set up a donation fund for her. We are not an organization yet -- and to register, organize funds, and set up through proper channels with all paper work in order, would take at least a year I think. Someone has suggested paypal as a place of collecting funds. Roopa doesn't have a bank account yet, she was a minor when she left her parents. And things work very slowly in India -- but because she herself can't go to the bank that's proving to be a problem. But once that is set up -- who ever wants to help her could send her a check if they wished. Right now the family's expenses include her medicines, her tests -- like endoscopy, and the transportation. They live quite a distance from the hospital (about 45 min by bus), but since she can't board a bus they have to hire a van -- which for them is expensive. We will make a separate post for Roopa's funds.
Thanks for all the support and goodwill for her.
Rita
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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Mental distraction from pain is very important --keeps the person from despair - and also constructive in healing process.
-1) I have finally been able to communicate with her doctor (through a third party) -- and he seems optimistic about her recovery. But he says its going to be a slow process and could take 6 months as she undergoes tests and various procedures step by step. It also seems they have the facilities to operate on her at this hospital itself. The good news is that I've heard from reliable sources that he's a very capable doctor.-
I am sorry to have to ask this, but are you absolutely sure the doctor is not just saying this because Roopa's case could be a cash cow for him (endless expensive treatment, esp. with foreigners behind it, little actual hope of recovery but lots of money for him)?
Sorry, my experience has been there are very few genuinely caring doctors in India and even less so when lower-caste people are involved. (They pretend to care about me because they smell money. A doctor like this nearly blinded me last year in Delhi.)
Posted 70 months ago.
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It's a government hospital that Roopa is being treated in. And the doctors are paid the same salary -- however many patients they see or don't see! And because it's particularly structured to cater to low income people, they are generally over-burdened with patients queuing up outside their doors for hours. Therefore they try to actually minimize the treatment time -- the faster they discharge a patient -- the better it is for them. Also compared to the glossy big private hospitals -- the costs here are subsidized. So right now it seems good -- the hospital has good doctors, adequate (maybe not the best) facilities, and the costs are minimal. It's the best option we have right now.
Because of the legal complexity of the case -- it is better the doctor does not know that the fund-raising is an international campaign. As this is the best option available to Roopa right now and it is important that her treatment continues here. All that the doctor has been told -- is that I'm a part of a women's rights group that wants to help Roopa.
What was very interesting however, is that one doctor indicated that they get at least 200-300 cases like this of girls/young women 'consuming' acid -- apparently all suicide bids! I wonder how many cases there would be if we totaled up all the hospitals in the city. I remember in the 80s when suddenly there were hundreds of incidents of women committing "suicide" by dousing themselves with kerosene and setting themselves alight --nobody blinked!! I fear that 'acid' is now replacing burning as the method of dowry murder. It is cheaper, cleaner and it is so much easier to dismiss as 'suicide.'
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Oh my god, I'm both moved and infuriated with this story, which is very similar than many others I've heard in India. How can the system try to hide this atrocities? Is Indian's pride at stake?
If so, your tactic of spreading this case is perfect.
I've been in Kamathipura, Mumbai, and seen what I would swear that were minors, prostituting not far from a pair of policemen talking friendly with some people.
Trying to hide this is not a favour or a sense of love for India...indian people are far more important than Indian pride.
Posted 70 months ago.
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I wondered about that too - would this be passed off as "suicide bid trying to pass for 498A dowry abuse"? Sadly enough there are a few of those, just enough to make it a plausible excuse.
Sounds like the doc and the hospital are about as good as it gets locally. I wonder about doing such extensive surgery anywhere outside Delhi, though( maybe I am behind in Calcutta's tech abilities).
Posted 70 months ago.
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The doctors at this particular hospital are from Delhi's top medical institute -- AIIMs. And that would be rare in the other government or maybe even private hospitals in this city.
@Alex. -- My point exactly. Pride is not in hiding atrocities -- it is in demanding a higher standard of ourselves as a nation! India's pride is often misplaced :(
Originally posted 70 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 70 months ago.
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Women in India are in bad condition.. Its pity and shame.. Read Hindustan Times Delhi Edition Editorial page (Pg12).
Posted 70 months ago.
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An Urgent Update on Roopa:
I spoke to her doctor last evening, October 03, and he said that she is not taking sufficient nutrition through her plastic tube -- and loosing a lot of weight. So they had to admit her in the hospital -- and will observe her and try to increase he nutrition uptake. The blockage it appear is in the stomach (which is not allowing the food to pass) -- so they have also planned an operation as soon as possible -- possibly within the next 7-10 days.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Thanks for the update. stomach or intestinal blockage is a very serious thing. I can imagine that she's getting little real nutrition anyway.
Posted 69 months ago.
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We are working out the best system to have funds coming her way. It's not simple, and Rita is working at it selflessly, as well as keeping an eye on Roopa's welfare. I hope we, of this group, will not let her down when she asks us to help.
Posted 69 months ago.
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"Oddly enough, most of these women were attacked not for dowry reasons but because they had rebuffed some man's advances."
These guys need to be beaten and locked up for a long time!
Posted 69 months ago.
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@Rogergordon -- Exactly. And those who kill need to get a life-term (though in India it is the death penalty). But very rarely is a case even investigated. And sometimes a family involved in a gang murder like this may be imprisoned but are released over time. It's primarily a problem of the failure of law and order.
Posted 69 months ago.
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We will make a posting soon on how those who want to help Roopa right now with her medical costs can can do so.
Those who would like to pledge an amount -- please email us at 50millionmissing@gmail.com, which details: your name, country, the amount you can pledge and whether you'd like to pledge through a check (only for India) or a paypal account Thank you all very much for your support of Roopa and the goals of this group.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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I don't think foreign checks will be any good at all in this case. Will write more to you privately.
Posted 69 months ago.
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Thanks for pointing that out @Sirensongs. I've inserted (Indian) for the checks. The system of foreign currency donations in India is far more complicated than we ever imagined!!! It's what we've been trying to figure out the right channels for.
Posted 69 months ago.
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Dowry victims....
These images are stills from a film and photos I took in a hospital in India, in order to 'show the world' what was happening. They are, however, too horrible to be published or shown. I interviewed several victims and portrayed the victims, in film and on photo.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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MirjamLCV edited this topic 69 months ago.
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I fully agree with Rita here... a failure of law and order. I know several cases where the murderers were free on bail in nowtime at all...
Posted 69 months ago.
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If I can be of help... we have an organization and transfer money to India on a regular basis. I could be your contact in Europe, in case you need a European based bank. We are an offically registered Foundation. See www.duniya.org. Please let me know if we can help.
Posted 69 months ago.
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this is so sad..i wish i can do something..i dont have paypal neither am i in india..
Posted 69 months ago.
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its really very sad
imagine i dnt even hve guts 2 c her pics in this position wat she must b suffering its erally irritating and humiliating on her parts wat her in laws have done with her in the name of dowry
Posted 69 months ago.
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Thank you Mirjam for the posting. These are the images I think the world needs to see to know of what's happening in India. It's what India needs to confront within itself. You slaughter a cow and the masses go rampaging through the streets in protest. But there is a woman getting slaughtered almost every hours and not a peep from the public!!!!
Posted 69 months ago.
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@Emuishere and everyone with questions about the Paypal system of donating.
The paypal account is free to open and anyone can open one with an email i.d. It is a convenient form of online transfer -- which is why we are considering it. Just go to www.paypal.com. And follow instructions. If you have problems please let us know. We are trying out different methods to find the one that would be most convenient for donors to use and for us to transfer to Roopa as this end.
And there is no fee to send the money via paypal unlike wire transfer or western union etc. It's also a more centralized way for us to monitor the funds and keep a proper record of who is contributing what. and when, and release the funds to Roopa's family accordingly as the bills come up.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Dear all,
Rita and myself have been trying to gather as much medical information as possible regarding the Roopa's case. We contacted few doctors, some in person, some by email. In particular through the famous Italian organization Emergency we were able to get some input by a doctor/university professor who has established a program to treat women that have been victims of exactly the same violence as Roopa's.
We have decided to disclose to everybody a summary of the feedback we received. The comments we have are solely based on the doctors personal experience and a poorly written Roopa's medical report of a visit dated on 19-9-07.
1. Roopa's lesions do not seem to be severe;
2. The main problem in such cases is to be able to recover ability to eat orally. What usually obstructs the feeding system is the growth of scars tissue on the sides of the esophagus, stomach, pylorus duodenum caused by the acid ingested. To determine the severity of the situation doctors insert a little tube with a micro camera attached to it, called endoscope, which allows to "see" inside the human body.
From the report about the endoscopy, Roopa's esophagus and stomach appear unobstructed.
3. the only obstruction appears to be in the pylorus, which is downstream to the stomach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pylorus). This is considered to be quite a normal outcome of acid ingestions. Dilations of the pylorus are supposed to be more easily achieved then the ones in the stomach and esophagus. One doctor wrote that
they should be able to dilate the pylorus by simply using the endoscope itself and, in particular, he discouraged the use of Gastrojejunostomy, which appears to be planned in the near future according to the report. He wrote that such surgery, albeit not an hefty one, might give rise to stomach ulcers in the far future, considering the young age of Roopa. He concluded that this kind of surgery should be left as last resource to recover ability of oral feeding.
4. Roopa should try to eat as soon as possible minutely blended
food , fruit puddings or any other infant-like food. She should be given acid blocking medicines to help the healing of the lesions and as she feels more confortable, progressively eat coarser food.
hope this helps.
Posted 69 months ago.
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Rita - is the PayPal account for Roopa's care open? If so - what name is the account under? When I've used PayPal to pay for something in India before, it has somehow been transferred into rupees through PaisaPay, I think it was. I don't think any funds were lost in the transfer. Please post where to send $ clearly, OK?
You're an angel, you know. xx
Posted 69 months ago.
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@thank you amma_maw, and thank you to every body else who has so generously wanted to help Roopa.
We have estimated Roopa's projected medical cost, including surgery, hospitalization, and medicine, to be about Rs 20,000/- which is about U.S. $500.00.
It's a nominal amount and we hope to raise it soon.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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For all those who’ve asked, Roopa is doing much better in the hospital, according to a conversation I had with her doctor on Oct 08, and is putting on weight.
It also needs to be said that her case has really been a team effort. Co-administrators and members of the 50 Million Missing group have worked alongside me tirelessly on different aspects of Roopa's case, constantly discussing, debating and sorting through issues of hospitals, doctor's diagnosis, accounts, and fund drives. WE are spread out from SanFrancisco to Sweden to Italy and India and coordinate mainly through the internet.
And here’s the team:
Caroline
Lars-Gunnar Svärd
Hervé Blandin
Dilip Muralidaran
Simone
<a
Mr. and Mrs. Bhattacharya [They still have to open a flickr account ]
We also thank Liliana Vazquez and Dr. Scott Corlew of Interplast, Dr. Ranjan Roy (New Jersey, U.S.A.) and the doctors of the Italian Agency -- Emergency for sharing their medical expertise on Roopa's case.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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zafassa: I've got nothing personally against Mother Theresa but frankly her organization can be of little of no help to us. We cannot get any help out of them, not a penny or a dime. They do not take family cases. In our case roopa has a family, her mom and dad or relatives are alive and she is not an orphan. They for sure will not lend any assistance to us or any of the women in india.
The only thing mother theresa's organization may assist in is by helping women avoid abortions and taking care of them till they give birth to the child. After the child birth of course its not their responsibility anymore and they mother and child are back to the roads, begging for their next meal. They are not even against selective abortions of female fetous but abortions on the whole even if an abortion is valid and justifiably necessary.
I don't think we can frankly rely on any organization here, no mother theresa or mandela. Our requirements are specific and we need to start on our own and address these things from ground up. Nobody knows the problems we are trying to address better than us and we should be the best guys to know that already.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Cannot take any rejection too personal, Dilip. We need all the help we can get, just because we are not sure how to proceed.
The world of charity is not the hunky dory abode of good samaritanism some may imagine. There is competition for funds, as well as positionning, and politicking, inflated egos, power trips, just like any collectives. Rome was not built in one day, 2 steps forward, one back, eyes on the goal, and tutti quanti.... ;-)
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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kinginexile edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Exactly. I may not agree with Mother Teresa's stand against contraception specially in a country like India that is exploding at the seams. However she did a great deal for the country's poor and unwanted -- specially soon after Independence when India did not even have the resources to help itself. I'd also add that it is not just her organization -- but many of the organizations that I checked with recently -- that could not take on one individual case -- namely that of Roopa -- to help gather medical funds for her. Unfortunately it is the way things are set up in India.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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I agree that we can't rely on any big organization. But let's take things one step at a time. Let's try to help get this girl back on her feet and among the living. Then, maybe we can help one more girl...one day at a time, one step at a time. Eventually if we are successful, we may need an organization.
Posted 69 months ago.
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Dilip Muralidaran: according to my records, mother teresa was a missionary noun who passed away 10 years ago.
nelson mandela has been the south african president during the nineties. both of them are quite popular characters. however, i fail to see the relationship you are implying between mother teresa (let alone mandela) and roopa.
Missionaries of Charity is a religious order established in india (calcutta) probably long before most of us were born. Because of their activities they have been engaged in (which are incidentally more than those you have hinted at) they necessarily have gained experience in dealing with indian beaurocracy, hospitals, banks and so forth. Asking them for suggestions in how to deal with roopa's case wouldn't have probably hurt too much. At worst they would have not given us any suggestion, and, i am pretty sure, we would have managed to survive nonetheless. i don't know about you, but certainly, we were not planning to get any "dime" from them.
But this is old stuff, because now (after 10 days) it looks like we have gotten the sought answers to our questions by other means (you may want to read the thread), so that you too can have your peace of mind.
Posted 69 months ago.
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Cp, others
Internet connection has been down in Rita's neck of the wood, so we have to bear with her iconcerning swift cyber communication.
It seems that the Durag Puja starting up in Calcutta, one week long, slows down activity, and that inclkudes all kind of electric and electronic repair outfits. Remember, this is....INDIA!
Posted 69 months ago.
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All we can do is wish everyone in Calcutta a blessed Durga Puja and Mahalaya!
Posted 69 months ago.
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In a way, we are doing our own FlickR puja here too. Roopa puja! She is in our thoughts, and so is Rita. Rooparita puja, that's it! ;-)
Posted 69 months ago.
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We are requesting help for Roopa's medical expenses and have finally figured out a system of fund collection.
There are 3 options for donors:
1) Paypal
Anyone can open a free paypal account with an email i.d. at www.paypal.com. and pay via wire transfer or credit card. There is no fee and no minimum in how much you can contribute.
Our paypal collection address is 50millionmissing@gmail.com
2) Moneygram
This is a direct wire transfer person to person. Since Roopa is hospitalized -- the moneygram will have to be directed to her father Joydeb. To get his full name and address please contact us at 50millionmissing@gmail.com.
3) Demand draft or an 'at par' cheque
This option is available only to people contributing in Rupees. Again please contact us at 50millionmissing@gmail.com for Joydeb's full name and address.
ALSO FOR OUR RECORDS, PLEASE EMAIL US AT 50MILLIONMISSING@GMAIL.COM WITH DETAILS OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:
1. Your name
2. country
3. amount
4. method of payment
5. date of payment
Thank you everyone for your support
We have estimated Roopa's projected medical cost, including surgery, hospitalization, and medicine, to be about Rs 20,000/- which is about U.S. $500.00.
It's a nominal amount and we hope to raise it soon.
As of 11th October we have already crossed the $300.00 mark. Thank you all who have contributed so generously.
Posted 69 months ago.
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Roopa's family does not have a phone-line or a mobile (more than 50% of people in India don't!)
However it has made communication with the family very difficult -- for we have to our send messages through someone and the contact person has to wait for Roopa's father's to return home from the hospital before delivering the message, upon which the same process is used to communicate back with us.
So if someone has an old mobile phone in working condition that is very basic and simple to use (no camera, video or ipod), please consider donating it to Roopa's family Contact us at 50millionmissing@gmail.com
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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October 13: I just visited Roopa at the hospital. She has been moved from the gastro ward to the surgery ward -- and the doctors plan to operate on her on Monday. She is high in spirits but a bit nervous. But was very happy when I told her that lots of people from all over the world have been asking about her and want to see her get well, to get strong mentally, and start a new chapter in her life.
If any one would like to send her a card (she can read English) then contact me or @sirensongs for the mailing address. Else email us at 50millionmissing@gmail.com
Posted 69 months ago.
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My phone and internet keep going off because Calcutta is in a two week festival mood now!!!!!!!!!
If anyone in Calcutta's BSNL service is reading this -- please could you get my line fixed -- as a contribution to this effort we are making for Roopa.
I've been complaining for 4 days straight and there has been no action from the telephone service.
p.s. I don't give bribes either :)
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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p.s. I don't give bribes either :)
------------------------------------------
Send us a letter from timt to time, Rita! ;:-)
Posted 69 months ago.
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Here is Roopa everyone just before her surgery on October 15. She is trying to look very brave even though she was terrified. In government hospitals they don't provide nursing care for patients who need constant attendance like Roopa needs. So her mother lives there day and night and sleeps on the floor and takes care of her. I feel awful about the state of the hospital. We have private hospitals in Calcutta which are very clean, hygienic and but beyond the means of middle class families even like mine! It could cost between $10,000 and $14,000 to get the same treatment for Roopa there. I don't have the energy to conduct that kind of a fund drive for her in this short a time.
In the meantime she's very frail. I was concerned soon after the operation when the parents were crying. The doctor however told me that the blood she needed (O+) is to help her heal and there are no complications. So right now we are looking for donors in Calcutta. I know the week long festival (calcutta's Christmas essentially) has started so many have left town. So it's been hard finding a donor available before 22nd -- but if you are available please contact me at 50millionmissing@gmail.com
for a phone number. Also if you give a bottle of blood -- any blood, they will exchange it for her ) group when she needs it. Please pleassse HELP.
href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rita_banerji/1611300082/" title="Photo Sharing">
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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October 18, 2007.
I spoke to Roopa's ward doctor, Dr. Mir, yesterday and he was actually very helpful in clarifying my questions. He said that Roopa's blood transfusion was because she is anemic and that that expensive drip -- albumin they are giving is because she very very low on albumin. This he feels is not a cause for concern but more to heal her heal faster. He also said that -- soon as they start feeding her orally -- she will start gaining weight and improving rapidly. They'll be checking her blood and albumin today again.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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kinginexile edited this topic 69 months ago.
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I also want to thank two residents of Calcutta -- Rana Sarkar of Middleton Row and Bodhisatya Sen of Southern Avenue, for being so selfless in offering to donate the O+ blood for Roopa when needed.
It is Calcutta's main festival season till the 22nd, and most people are out of town or have plans with families. So this is a very kind gesture.
As of till now Roopa's parents have donated. One donation might be required early this morning at 9.30 How it is too soon for donation procedures for the others. They have to be first screened before they can donate. So if there is futher requirements -- we have 2 standbys. If anyone lives close to Victoria Memorial -- and can donate at quick notice do email me. You dont' have to be O group. Any group will do -- the hospital blood bank will exchange that for a bottle of O+ for Roopa. Thanks everyone for your support and concern.
Posted 69 months ago.
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How is Roopa today?
Posted 69 months ago.
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Rita just sent me an SMS - she has a hard time going online.
Originally posted 69 months ago.
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rita banerji edited this topic 69 months ago.
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Sounds like things are okay with Roopa?....
Posted 69 months ago.
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News from Rita
"Great News Roopa was just fed through the mouth. She said she feels very happy"
Posted 69 months ago.
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Thats great news. :-)
Posted 69 months ago.
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And soon Durga puja is over. Electricity (see wikipedia for definition) will be back too!
:-))))))))))))
Posted 69 months ago.
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