KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday said that he would consider enrolling six-year-old Rajeshwari, a congenitally deaf and blind child from Elamakkara, as a beneficiary of the cochlear implant scheme. The scheme is specifically meant for children under three years. “A certificate from a registered medical practitioner is needed in this regard, stating that the implant will heal her of the hearing defects. If that certificate is produced, she will be given the aid,” the minister told the parents of the child, who was brought to the Maharajas College auditorium here on Monday. Rajeshwari, born to parents Viji Kumar and Jayanthi, had a three-month premature birth. Viji Kumar, who is a daily wage earner, has been struggling to make ends in meet and it has become tougher for the couple ever since Rajeshwari was born. Amassing Rs 5 lakh to conduct a cochlear implant surgery seemed impossible to them till they heard of the scheme introduced by the state government meant for ailing children under three-year-old. “We were desperately trying to find a doctor who could bring us out of this misery. This is when we heard of the special scheme and decided to approach the Chief Minister,” Jayanthi told Express.The family learnt about the defect at the age of four. The parents blame the government hospital doctors for not informing them of the child’s congenital defects. “They never mentioned that she had any problem at all or that she was in need of special attention,” they said. However, the parents are extremely hopeful, now that Rajeshwari has a chance for a better life.
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