No money to foot Thimmakka's medical bills, says family

Family members of environmentalist ‘Salumarada’ Thimmakka, who was admitted to a private hospital following breathing problems, on Monday said they were unable to foot the medical bill.

Thimmakka was treated at Apollo Hospital in Jayanagar and her medical bills are close to Rs 72,000. The hospital has offered a discount of Rs 28,000. Her son Umesh has said they had to borrow money to get her treated and that the government had not been supporting them.

“Thimmakka gets a senior citizen remuneration of Rs 500 from the government. There is no other source of income. We had to borrow money and pay the hospital of Rs 44,000,” he said.

Umesh said even as the government had a scheme in her name, no government representative came to enquire about her health.

‘False claims’

“The government has falsely claimed that 10 acres of land and an honorarium of Rs 50,000 were given to her. Whatever little was given to her in the past has all been spent on her medical expenses as she has been falling ill frequently,” Umesh said.