Bus owners' association assures free travel for thalassemia patients

MALDA, May 8: The Malda bus and mini bus owners’ association has finally agreed to issue free travelling pass for thalassemia patients below poverty line. The Malda District Voluntary Blood Donors’ Forum (MDVDDF) and Malda Medium Club jointly requested the bus owners’ association to issue free travelling pass to thalassemia patients who have to travel to English Bazaar town for blood transfusion once a month.There are 88 children across the district at present who are suffering from thalassemia and their family members are bound to come Malda town for blood transfusion.“But they do not have the capacity to bear transportation costs. It is impossible for the families of daily or migrant labourers to bear transportation expenses for blood transfusion frequently.“A daily labour earns Rs 60 per day. The travelling cost from Bamongola to Malda is more than Rs 60. How he can mange such expenses?” Mr Soumitra Dutta, secretary, MDVDDF said.The Malda bus and mini bus owners’ association has decided to allow free journey for one family member of thalassemia patients below five year old. The bus owners’ association today handed over 20 free passes for thalassemia patients at a programme organised by MDVDDF in English Bazaar Municipality.It may be noted that the members of the voluntary blood donors’ forum supplied blood and required medicines free of cost to 88 thalassemia patients below the poverty line. n sns