Fasting freedom fighter admitted to hospital

Surat, Nov 10 (UNI) Freedom fighter and one of the few surviving participants of Mahatma Gandhi's historical Dandi march, the 94-year-old Purnima Pakvasa, who was on a hunger satyagraha for the last three days, has been admitted to New Civil Hospital here.

Doctors at NCH informed that she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) yesterday and that the hunger strike had affected her heart and kidneys.

Ms Pakwasa has been on a fast since Monday to get back the land allotted to the school run by her trust, Rithambara Vishwa Vidhyapith, in Saputara in Dangs district.

According to Rithambara Vishwa Vidhyapith sources, she had been fighting with the authorities for the past two years to get back the land allotted to her in 1978.

In 1978, the state government had allotted her a 25-acre land, of which, 10-acre land was released immediately and the remaining 15-acre land was reserved in her name.

Ms Pakvasa had started a school for the tribal girls in the 10-acres of land. However, lastg year, she came to know that the remaining 15 acres had been given to Navaodaya Vidyalaya to start a school. Since then, she had been making pleas to authorities to get the land back. Yet, she did not get any response, sources said.

Due to delay in allotment, Pakwasa could not start three new projects including colleges for the tribal girls, for which donations were offered, sources added. Hence she went on a hunger strike to highlight her issue.

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