Palakkad: A Malappuram-based charitable trust has stepped forward to build a house for a nine-year-old girl from Palakkad who lost her right hand following alleged medical negligence, after the family waited for months without meaningful government support.

The decision by the Shelter India Charitable Trust came on Friday, just hours after Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan assured the family that he would take care of the medical and logistical expenses required to fit the child with an artificial hand, doubling the family’s relief.

Vinodhini, a Class 4 student from Pallassana in Palakkad, fractured her right arm after falling while playing near her house on September 24, 2025. Her parents allege that doctors at the District Hospital in Palakkad failed to properly treat a small open wound along with the fracture. Her condition worsened rapidly, and she was later shifted to the Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode, where doctors said the damage was irreversible, making amputation unavoidable.

“We have been in constant touch with the family since the allegations surfaced and visited them several times during Vinodhini’s treatment in Kozhikode,” said Muhammed Azar, vice-chairman of the Pulikkal-based Shelter India Charitable Trust. “We were ready to help with medical expenses, education, or by constructing a house,” he told Onmanorama.

Azar said the trust initially waited for the state administration to announce support, especially since the injury was allegedly caused by negligence at a government hospital. “When the Opposition leader stepped in to ensure an artificial hand and related expenses, it became clear that no further government assistance was forthcoming. We then decided to immediately extend our support,” he said.

While the trust had first considered providing educational assistance, it later decided to construct a house after the girl’s parents requested it. The family, which includes three minor children, currently lives in a rented shed in Pallassana. Both parents - Vinod and Praseedha - are daily wage workers who were unable to work for long periods while attending to Vinodhini in hospital and have been surviving on borrowed money. “We will meet the family soon. However, land is required to construct the house. As per our capacity, we can only build the house, and we hope sponsors will come forward to provide land,” Azar added.

Meanwhile, Vinod said the family was overwhelmed by the support. “Two good things happened on the same day. We are very happy now,” he told Onmanorama.

Vinodhini has not returned to school since the incident and missed her examinations. “She loved painting and dancing,” Vinod said. “Now she is learning to write and draw with her left hand after losing her dominant right hand. But the trauma still remains.”

The family had earlier approached the state government multiple times seeking financial assistance for an artificial hand. Though ₹2 lakh was sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, the amount was far short of the ₹8–10 lakh required for a suitable prosthetic. Satheesan’s office also assured logistical support, including coordination of hospital visits and treatment.

According to the family, Vinodhini had a coin-sized wound that was allegedly ignored during initial treatment. Her arm developed severe swelling, discolouration and a foul smell beneath the plaster. She underwent amputation on September 30 at Kozhikode hospital, followed by additional procedures to control infection. In all, she underwent five surgeries and spent over a month in the ICU.

Following public outrage, two doctors of the Palakkad district hospital. However, hospital P K Jayasree denied negligence, alleging that the parents delayed follow-up treatment. 

In November, Palakkad Town South Police registered a case against the doctors under Section 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with causing grievous hurt by a rash or negligent act.