Shahzahna Kabir Sheikh is another beneficiary of Kalam’s kindly gesture. The 19-year-old was severely burnt in the attack on Naroda-Patiya and the President had instructed the authorities to take care of her treatment costs.After living for more than six months at the Shah Alam Relief Camp, Shazahna and her family moved to Faizal Row Houses at Vatva, enduring a year of terrible hardship.She is still waiting for help. ‘‘I have not recovered completely. I need to undergo a few more surgeries to have the scars removed,’’ she says. ‘‘I’ve already undergone major surgery that cost my father Rs 12,000. I was promised that my treatment would be taken care of but apart from the injury compensation, nothing has been provided to me.’’Her mother Apsara Begum adds: ‘‘Scars are not the only problem. She gets a burning sensation on her hands and has to regularly take medicines and apply ointments. We spend about Rs 1,000-1,200 on her treatment every month.’’Shahzahna’s father Kabirbhai has only recently found work as a autorickshaw driver. ‘‘My father has seven mouths to feed,’’ Shahzahna says. ‘‘But he has still got me the best treatment he could afford.’’And she is positive that Kalam’s intervention will make a difference. ‘‘The President promised me help, so I guess my treatment will be taken care of sooner or later,’’ she says.Her mother isn’t so sure. She complains that district officials don’t visit them anymore. ‘‘Who is interested in victims who suffered an year ago?.It’s a closed chapter,” she says. Wanting to do her bit to make ends meet, Shahzahna has taken up tailoring. ‘‘I could sew a little but now I am taking classes. I have to do something so that I can help my father,’’ she says. ‘‘I was never keen on going somewhere to work. Now, I guess the family will be better off with whatever little I bring in.’’Even as Shahzahna pins her hope on Kalam, District Collectorate officials insist she has been paid the injury compensation. ‘‘I am not sure about the treatment money,’’ an official adds.
