Palakkad: Nemmara MLA K Babu on Wednesday met Vinodhini, a nine-year-old girl from Pallassana in Palakkad who lost her right hand following an alleged medical lapse, and announced a monthly assistance of ₹4,000 for her. The legislator also assured the family that land would be arranged in Pallassana for the construction of a house.

The assurance comes as a relief to the family, as a Malappuram-based charitable trust had earlier offered to build a house for Vinodhini, but the plan remained uncertain because the family did not own land.
“We have been living in a rented shed for a long time. Getting land of our own would mean a lot to us,” said Vinodhini’s father, Vinod.

The CPM legislator visited the family shortly after Health Minister Veena George announced that Vinodhini was added to the Women and Child Development Department’s sponsorship scheme, which will cover the costs of a prosthetic hand and her education. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan has already arranged a prosthetic hand for Vinodhini, estimated to cost between ₹8 lakh and ₹10 lakh.

“All pre-medical procedures have been completed, and we have been informed that the order for the artificial hand has been placed by the Opposition Leader's office. It is expected to arrive within two weeks,” Vinod said. Satheesan has also assured the family that all medical and logistical expenses related to the treatment would be covered.

However, Vinod expressed concern about long-term care. “The immediate help is important, but managing treatment and follow-up in the future will be difficult. It would help if the government could support us in that as well,” he said.

Vinodhini, a Class 4 student, fractured her right arm after a fall near her house on September 24, 2025. She was first taken to Palakkad District Hospital, where her parents allege that doctors failed to properly treat a small open wound accompanying the fracture. Her condition deteriorated over the next few days, leading to her transfer to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Doctors there informed the family that the damage had become irreversible, making amputation unavoidable. Vinodhini underwent the procedure on September 30 and later required additional surgeries to prevent infection. In all, 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 from a Scheduled Caste community. Since the child’s hospitalisation, the family has been surviving on borrowed money as neither parent has been able to work.

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