The Kerala government has decided to fund the prosthetic hand of a nine-year-old girl from Palakkad who lost her right limb following alleged medical negligence, bringing her under the Women and Child Development Department’s sponsorship scheme.

A government order to this effect was issued days after Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan announced financial assistance for fitting an artificial hand for the child after repeated appeals by the girl’s family to the government had gone unanswered. Malappuram-based Shelter India Charitable Trust has also stepped forward to build a house for the nine-year-old.

Health Minister Veena George said the order was issued after it was found that the child urgently requires a prosthetic hand, which would involve a substantial cost, and that her family is financially disadvantaged. Approval was granted to include the child under the sponsorship scheme in accordance with Mission Vatsalya guidelines, enabling immediate financial assistance. Funds for the prosthetic hand will be provided from the Bal Nidhi.

Following the incident, the minister had ordered an inquiry and directed officials to ensure specialised medical treatment for the child. In addition, ₹2 lakh has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. MLA K Babu had also raised the issue with the government.

The child, Vinodhini, a Class 4 student and a native of Pallassana in Palakkad, fractured her right arm after falling while playing near her house on September 24, 2025. She was initially taken to Palakkad District Hospital, where her parents allege doctors failed to treat a small open wound that accompanied the fracture adequately.

Her condition reportedly worsened over the following days, prompting her transfer to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Doctors there informed the family that the damage was irreversible, making amputation unavoidable. Vinodhini underwent amputation on September 30, followed by additional procedures to prevent infection. In total, she underwent five surgeries and spent over a month in the intensive care unit.

Vinodhini lives with her parents, Vinod and Praseedha, and two siblings in a rented shed in Pallassana. Both parents are daily wage workers and belong to a Scheduled Caste community. The family has been surviving on borrowed money since the child’s hospitalisation, as neither parent has been able to work.

Following public outrage and media attention, the Health Department suspended two doctors at Palakkad District Hospital, Junior Resident Dr Mustafa and Junior Consultant Dr Sarfaraz, pending an inquiry under the Kerala Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules. In November, Palakkad Town South police registered a case against the district hospital doctors under Section 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with causing grievous hurt by a rash or negligent act.