Got cheque for injury,made to return it

The Ambernath resident was one of the over 800 injured in the attack given compensation on December 4,2008.

“Two days later,I was called and told there is some mistake in the cheque as it was supposed to be from the Bank of India instead of the State Bank of India. They made me withdraw the cash and hand it back to them,” said Jadhav who is still waiting for compensation.

“It is very disappointing that I was given a cheque and then told to return it. The government lied to me and has still not bothered to get back to me.”

Jadhav,who works at the new building of the hospital,was on duty on the night of the attacks. On hearing about the firing at CST railway station and terrorists entering the lane behind Cama,the staff rushed to ensure safety of patients,mostly pregnant women. “A few patients were in the toilet and I was alerting them when a bullet hit my right hand and then the wall. I fell unconscious,” she said.

Since the bullet had just grazed the hand,no hospital admitted her taking the injury as minor. Twenty days later,when she started feeling sharp pain in the hand,her son took her to JJ Hospital where doctors detected embedded shrapnel. An operation and five stitches followed.

“My injury is may be not serious as compared to others’. But I have suffered equally. I deserve compensation as I am still in pain,” said Jadhav.

City district collector I Kundan said the state government policy was to provide compensation only to patients admitted to hospitals immediately after the attack. “Our staff had realised the mistake in giving the cheque to Jadhav and had taken it back. However if she was later operated upon and treated in a hospital,they can present the documents and we will follow up the issue,” she said.