THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy visited I. S. Athira, a dalit BBA aviation student, who has been bedridden after she was subjected to a casteist slur by her classmates. He informed her that he would take up with the LDF Government, the issue of her further medical assistance as so far the Government had paid only the initial medical expenses of Rs 4.5 lakh.
The girl's mother Indira is the sole earning member of the family and is a Kudumbashree cleaning worker. The LDF Government had met the hospital expenses of Rs 4. 5 lakh incurred for her initial treatment. Chandy informed that he would take up Athira's issue before the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for her further medical treatment as Athira is bedridden.
"I will bring to notice Athira's medical condition as well as the plight of her family before the LDF Government and Chief Minister", said Chandy.
Athira was a student of IPMS College of Aviation, Thiruvananthapuram, and reportedly fell off a ledge at Karipur on November 30 while on a training programme as part of her BBA course. Police had arrested five girl classmates including the centre manager, Deepa Manikantan. Athira's mother had taken a Rs 1.5 lakh loan from several people to meet her educational expenses.
