NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF

Search the Internet          Tips

Recent Columns

Thank you, Raveena It's a repeat of the      same, old story Vox Populi: The      Real Thing Two big, brave      predictions

Spreading Some Christmas Cheer

Christmas is here. Every year around this time, friends of mine, especially those horribly rich software types down from the 'Christian' West on holiday, look for "worthy causes" to donate a few dollars.

After some frantic hunting, most of them zero in on the professional recipients -- an NGO crying to bring relief to children here, a voluntary organisation trying to educate orphans there, and so on.

Usually the only thing that motivates my pals to pick one particular beneficiary over another is ease and accessibility.

Either they found the recipient's phone number easily in the yellow pages. Or there was a drop-box in some greeting card store round the corner. Or there was a pre-paid envelope in some mailer their parents had received.

Whatever.

Fifty or so dollars are then magnanimously parted with. Soon, his or her 'amma' would be telling my 'amma' and everybody else's 'amma' on the street that Ravi or Ramya had donated two-thousand-two-hundred rupees, you know?

Fervent pleas to look deeper and donate to more needy people and authentic organisations would unfailingly fall on deaf ears: "Baddi magane, mahaan cynic kano neenu (son of an 'interest'-ing mother, you are a bloody cynic)."

Fortunately (?) two things have happened this Christmas. For one thing, my horribly rich friends are no longer so horrible or rich or both, and their cash-strapped companies cannot fly them down for a few days at home.

For another, the super-patriots of the saffron brotherhood, who had relieved several of them of large sums of money in the name of Kargil and other similar causes, have nailed themselves with the "Coffin Con".

So, my friends are stuck. Stuck in a foreign country during a holiday season. Stuck for ideas for donation for thanksgiving. And stuck for words at the 'gaddari' of those who don't even mind pillaging the dead.

So how can you make some difference to the lives of your countrymen and women, and simultaneously do your conscience a favour before getting down to the more serious business of making pots more money next year?

Here, by way of advice, is a list of a dozen appeals for help from those who really need it. They are all (I hope) genuine appeals since most of them want you to send money c/o their hospitals. Responding to them and saving their lives (I believe) is a far more worthy way of saying "thanks".

You might not receive colourful thank-you notes from them every year, or further exhortations on glazed newsprint to donate again, but isn't that the whole point of giving -- not to expect anything in return?

All the appeals are from Bangalore, but if you wish to help people from other cities, all you have to do is look up the 'letters to the editor' column in the newspaper of the city of your choice. And pass the word.

Appeal from Dr Sanjay Pai

Ms Veena has been diagnosed to be suffering from recurrent giant cell tumour of the right femur. She is 19 years old and is the sole breadwinner of a very poor family. She requires surgery, which will cost Rs 3.5 lakh. The alternative is amputation. Donations, which will help her and her family, may be sent to the patient's hospital account, c/o Mallya Hospital, Hospital No 200709, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore 560001.

Appeal from Shiva Kumar

I, Shiva Kumar, 37 years, am suffering heart ailment and currently undergoing treatment at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Bangalore. I was a temporary worker in a factory, but have not been able to work for the last one year. Doctors have said my treatment would cost Rs 100,000, including hospital expenses and cost of medicine. I belong to a poor family and hence cannot raise this amount. I request kind-hearted people to help me financially. Contributions may kindly be sent to Shivakumar (patient ID 200109240026), cardiology department, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Victoria Hospital Complex, Bangalore 560002.

Appeal from Hasne Alam

My son Nawaz Baig, aged 20 years, is suffering from chronic renal failure and is on haemodialysis which should continue till renal transplantation is done. The monthly expense for this is about Rs 10,000. Mine is a poor family and we are unable to meet the treatment cost. Therefore, I seek the help of kind-hearted people. Contributions may kindly be sent to Nawaz Baig, Hospital No 5767, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Millers Road, Vasanthnagar, Bangalore 560052.

Appeal from Sumati, Bangalore

Prabhakar (10) has been advised to undergo open heart surgery, which will cost Rs 34,000. I am not in a position to raise this amount and I appeal to philanthropists, social organisations, individuals and others to help me. DDs/cheques may be sent to Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, IP/OP No. 200110200130, Victoria Hospital Complex, Bangalore 560002.

Appeal from Rukmini N

My mother Thripura Sundari has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and has undergone major surgery at Murthy Health and Research Centre, Koramangala. She has been advised further chemotherapy for six cycles, which will cost more than Rs 25,000. I appeal to all kind-hearted people to help us financially. Contributions may kindly be sent against the patient's name (Thripura Sundari) at Murthy Health and Research Centre, Koramangala I Block, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore 560034.

Appeal from M Rama Murthy

My son Master Pradeep Kumar (Hospital No 1293510), aged about 9 years, is suffering from kidney failure. The doctors attending have said that both kidneys have failed. He is required to undergo regularly haemodialysis thrice a week till kidney transplantation surgery becomes feasible. Currently, he is undergoing dialysis thrice weekly at St John's Medical College Hospital. We come from a poor socio-economic family and are unable to bear the costs incurred. In addition, he is required to take expensive medication after the operation. We request philanthropists and charitable organisations to help us financially. All donations, payable to St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560034, may be sent favouring Hospital Associate Director to be used for my son's treatment.

Appeal from W Prasanna

My mother M Monette has been advised to undergo renal transplantation, which will cost Rs 3 lakh. We are not in a position to raise this amount and appeal to philanthropists, social organisations, individuals and others to help us. DDs/cheques may be sent to BKF-Chande Nephro-Urulogy Centre NU Trust, No 19790, CA 6, 15th Main, 11th Cross, Padmanabhanagar, Bangalore 560070.

Appeal from Nazeer Ahmed Khan

My son, Feroz Khan, 15 years, is suffering from isolated growth hormone deficiency. He needs growth hormone treatment for a period of three years. The cost of the treatment per year is Rs 150,000. I request kind-hearted people to help us financially. Contributions may kindly be sent against the name of the patient (Feroz Khan) at M S Ramaiah Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560054.

Appeal from H R Jayappa

I, Jayappa, 33 years, recently underwent renal transplant at St John's Medical College. The cost of post-transplant medicines will be Rs 15,000 a month for the first six months and Rs 5,000 a month subsequently for one year. I come from a poor family and hence request financial help from kind-hearted people. Contributions may kindly be sent to H R Jayappa (Hospital No 1466595), St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560034.

Appeal from Babu Reddy

I am 24 years old and suffer from rheumatic heart disease and have been advised, as a life-saving measure, to undergo a surgery for replacement of aortic valve which will cost Rs 120,000. I am not in a position to raise this amount and appeal to philanthropists, social organisations, individuals and others to help me. DDs/cheques may be sent to St John's Medical College Hospital, Hospital No 1502262, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore 560034.

Appeal from K H Khaleelurahman

My ten-year-old son Ateequrahman is suffering from Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency and needs hormone treatment therapy for three years, which costs Rs 24,000 a month. I am not in a position to raise this amount and appeal to philanthropists, social organisations, individuals and others to help me. DDs/cheques may be sent to M S Ramaiah Medical College Hospital, Hospital No 25863, MSRIT Post, Bangalore 560054.

Appeal from G Shyamaladevi

I have been suffering from chronic renal failure for the past two years and am on dialysis for the past eight months. Doctors have advised carrying out renal transplantation at the earliest. The approximate cost will be Rs 150,000 and the cost of medication will be Rs 15,000 a month after transplantation. Since I belong to a poor family and have already spent a sizeable amount for treatment, I request philanthropists, social organisations, individuals and others to help me. DDs/cheques may be sent to G Shyamaladevi, c/o Dr P Soundarrajan, Professor and Head, Senior Consultant, Nephrology, Sri Ramachandra Hospital, OP No F/618, 1, Ramachandra Nagar, Porur, Chennai 600016.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Krishna Prasad