Agra : Amid controversy over the alleged suicide of a Dalit PhD scholar of Hyderabad Central University comes a story that will leave Indians red-faced.
An aspiring engineer from IIT-BHU, who makes a living by working as a sweeper, is trying to sell his kidney to pay off a Rs 2.7-lakh education loan, a leading English daily reported.
“There was a lot of pressure. Due to my prolonged illness, I had to incur expenses for my treatment and couldn’t give back the loan I took for my studies,” Mahesh Balmiki, who is a student of mining, was quoted as saying.
Mahesh didn’t have any option, so he started to search for a buyer for one of his kidneys. He later told his friends that people ask a donor’s caste while buying kidneys from the thriving black market for kidneys. He visited around five hospitals in Varanasi and Alwar, but found no takers for his kidney.
“I visited around five hospitals in Varanasi and Alwar. The doctors there informed me that no one would take my kidney as I am a dalit,” Mahesh added.
Left with no option, the 19-year-old ‘very bright’ student has now left his studies and has taken up a sweeper’s job back at his village in Alwar, Rajasthan. He earns only Rs 4,000 per month.
“I have no option other than to clean and sweep,” he said.
COURTESY: NEWS NATION
http://www.newsnation.in/article/111535-iit-student-sell-kidney-pay-education-loan-buyers-dalit-organ.html