Struggle's a way of life for this freedom fighter

At 98, poverty-stricken freedom fighter had to struggle for seven years to get corrective surgery after losing his eyesight

For 98-year-old BSR Jayaram, fighting for the country's freedom in his youth was followed up by a protracted struggle for getting vision corrective surgery in old age.


People's man: The Lokayukta wrote to the hospital authorities to consider
Jayaram's financial conditionu00a0 and do the needful. File pic

Jayaram, who dropped out of school to take part in the freedom struggle after his parents' death in 1946, made a living doing odd jobs. He was jailed during the freedom struggle and could not take up a proper job on being released as he had not completed his education.

When old age caught up with him, he applied for freedom fighters' pension and was granted one of Rs 5,000 each month. With no relatives, friends or a place to stay, Jayaram started living in Rajeshwari Guest House in the Majestic area, where he has been for the last two decades.

"I pay Rs 1,800 per month for the shared room and Rs 2,000 for my food," Jayaram said, adding that the remaining amount was used for meeting travel expenses, basic groceries and medicine.

Eyesight loss
Real trouble began when Jayaram lost his eyesight at the age of 91, seven years back. He went from hospital to hospital, only to be turned away since he had no money.

"With the help of some good Samaritans, I managed to approach hospitals for treatment but was always turned away because I had no money. They refused to make me eligible for corrective surgery at a cost I could afford even when I told them I was a freedom fighter. The worst part is that even the government hospital demanded money," said Jayaram.

That's when someone suggested that he ask Lokayuktau00a0 Santosh Hegde for help. Officials at the Lokayukta office were touched by Jayaram's tale and got in touch with the Minto Eye Hospital and asked the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) to see if he could help him.

The Lokayukta wrote to the hospital authorities to consider Jayaram's case as a special one and keep his financial condition in mind and do the needful. The hospital's RMO Dr Chandra Prabha arranged the surgery successfully last week.

Walking into the Lokayukta office yesterday, Jayaram was very happy that he could finally see things clearly. "I wanted to thank the officials for their help. Such institutions are the only rays of hope for the poor and downtrodden," he said.

Deputy Commissioner (public relations) Syed Riyaz said that its their duty to see to it that people get their due without corrupt practices coming in the way.