Nine years after losing his left hand in the 11/7 serial train blasts in Mumbai, Mahendra Pitale is still struggling to find his feet as the railways is yet to offer him a job.
Pitale, who resides in Mira Road, was on the ill-fated train when the bomb went off at Jogeshwari station. "I was lucky to be standing near the door when the blast happened. I was thrown on the platform due to the impact," he said.
The 11/7 blasts killed 189 people and injured more than 800. "I had applied for a job in the railways in 2010, but I am yet to get a reply. Instead of offering one to me right away, they have asked me to visit them every week and follow up because I need it the most," said Pitale.
Pitale had written a reminder letter to the general manager of Western Railway (WR) two months back. "Every time I ask them about the status of the job, they say that the file is in verification process. They come up with some or the other excuse. I am living a hand-to-mouth existence."
After the blast, Pitale initially got fitted with an artificial left arm but couldn't manage to work normally. With the help of NGOs and a trust, he then got an electronic hand fitted seven years back. Although he was fit with a state-of-the-art prosthetic arm, the heavy expenses required for its maintenance are giving this art college graduate sleepless nights. The arm uses advanced technology and works on the electrical impulses it receives from the brain.
"The electronic arm cost me Rs7 lakh. As I don't have money for its maintenance, I ensure that I use it only when I need it the most. In monsoon, I use the manual artificial limb as the electronic one can develop a technical snag," said Pitale.
So far, he has spent Rs1.5 lakh on the maintenance of the arm. Pitale, who studied at LS Raheja School of Art, continues to work on sculptures and take up designing assignments. "I used to do sculpting and clay modelling at my uncle's idol workshop during Ganeshotsav. But now, I can help only when the idols are given their finishing touches," he said. For his daily livelihood, Pitale takes up freelance designing assignments.
WR divisional railway manager Shailendra Kumar said, "I am not aware of this case. I will definitely look into it."
