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Lucknow, 21 April 2009: Dalit emancipation may
be the buzzword in Mayawati's regime but a Dalit woman
died writhing in pain in front of the grand statue of
Dalit icon Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj at CSM Medical
University on 19 April 2009. Ironically, despite
government orders to provide treatment to all poor
patients, the doctors refused to admit her even after
three weeks of persuasion.
Gyanti Devi (27), a Dalit women hailing from Mahdipatti
village, Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was brought to CSMMU
nearly three weeks ago. Her husband Harish Chandra
contacted a senior professor who also belonged to his
native district for helping him in arranging treatment
for his wife. The professor, who has just relinquished
the headship of a department, tried to help the poor
couple. He used his connections for arranging
consultation in the gynaecology department. The doctors
diagnosed her of cervix cancer and referred her to the
radiotherapy department.
The tale of woes for Gyanti Devi started as she was
tossed as shuttlecock between radiotherapy and
gynaecology departments. Ironically, the requests made
to the doctors by the senior professor were of little
help to her. The doctors advised a series of tests
including biopsy for which she had to rely on private
labs draining her little savings.
Later, the doctors at radiotherapy refused to admit her
claiming non-availability of bed. After much persuasion,
the doctors relented claiming that she would be admitted
on 20 April 2009. But Gyanti Devi had little time at her
hand and she died of acute pain on the road inside CSMMU
campus on 19 April 2009 night.
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