K'taka: Will people get respite from Handigodu?

Sirsi, Karnataka, May 11: Continuing with his village stay to 'feel the pulse and solve the problems of rural poor', Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would spend a night on May 17 in a poor widow's house in Handigodu village, where the crippling 'Handigodu' syndrome, a crippling disease has been in prevalence since 1975.

The disease, for which an effective vaccine was yet to be found, had left people in the hilly Malanad region of Karnataka handicapped dwarfed limbs besides nervous breakdowns. Cases continued to be reported during the last two years. The disease left poor people unfit for labour work.

Mr Kumaraswamy's host Seethamma, who herself suffered from the disease, which had affected the whole family. She lost her husband who was affected by cancer.

About 300 people have been affected by this mysterious disease, 223 in Sagar taluk alone. Handigodu village comes under the limits of Malawa Grama Panchayat of Sagar taluk in Shimoga District.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had conducted research on the disease but could not come out with a effective drug to treat it.

The diseases affected were running a Co-operative handloom unit till a few years ago but was closed down due to financial constraints. The Rs one lakh, the government was giving to the district was too meager to tackle the problem, the affected feel.

UNI