Beed girl, 11, taken off ambulance over diesel money; father carries her on foot for over 10 km

An incident in Majalgaon taluka of Beed district has caused anger across the district. An unconscious girl and her helpless father were made to get off an ambulance at the primary health centre in Dindrud because they could not pay for diesel. A video of the episode spread quickly on social media, after which the matter came to light.

The girl is 11 years old and studies in Class 5 at the Zilla Parishad school in Dindrud village. On the morning of September 29 she was at school when she suddenly had a seizure and lost consciousness. Headmaster Manohar Katare and other teachers immediately took her to the primary health centre in Dindrud. The medical officer there, Dr Nilesh Dhakne, described her condition as serious and advised referring her for further treatment.

The girl has already lost her mother. Her father earns a living by carrying loads and supports two sons and two daughters, and an elderly grandmother looks after the children. The family lives in extreme hardship. It is alleged that the family pleaded for an ambulance but no one came forward to help. The father had no money to pay the ambulance, so the doctors and staff at the centre asked for money for diesel. When the family, who live off daily wages, did not have the money, they were made to get off the ambulance. The ambulance driver also refused to take the girl any further.

The helpless father then put his unconscious daughter on his shoulder and set off on foot, with the grandmother following behind. The grandmother is said to have told the doctors emotionally, "We have no money even for food, where will we get it for diesel? We are somehow raising four children." It is alleged that a doctor standing nearby replied rudely, "If you cannot raise them, why do you have children?"

The father began the onward journey on foot from the Dindrud primary health centre and kept walking for more than 10 kilometres. Since the video surfaced, there is anger across Beed district, and people are demanding strict action, suspension and legal steps against the doctors and staff concerned. People are asking where the poor are to go if this is what happens in government health centres.

Dr Nilesh Dhakne has said that ambulances are meant for pregnant women, but that he should still not have spoken like that. He said he had made a mistake and expressed regret.

District Health Officer Dr Ulhas Gandal said that if anyone has asked for money for diesel and spoken rudely to the patient's relatives, action will be taken against that person. He said he is gathering full information.