Shaktiman was back on its feet on Sunday morning, its muscles twitching. Its body shook as it stood on the artificial hind-limb fitted after a double surgery.
On March 14, during a protest in Dehradun, BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi had allegedly attacked Shaktiman, a white horse deployed with the mounted police.
As it moved back to protect itself from the blows, one of its limbs got caught in a railing. The injured limb had to be amputated.
V.K. Nautiyal, a bio-engineer who designed the prosthetic limb for Shaktiman, told The Hindu : “Temporary processes have been provided to make Shaktiman stand and sit, but today [on Sunday] Shaktiman stood and sat down for the first time without the help of the processes. However, it’ll take some time for it to recover.”
Financial assistance The former Chief Minister, Harish Rawat, said the Congress government would provide financial assistance for Shaktiman’s treatment. Other political leaders, including Mr. Joshi of the BJP, promised help.
However, after the political crisis turned grave, both parties sidelined the issue.
Doctors, caretakers and the police work in shifts to take care of the 14-year-old horse.
With President’s Rule imposed on Uttarakhand, there is lack of funds for Shaktiman’s treatment.
“We haven’t received any money from any political leaders. The State government had said it would provide assistance. With political instability gripping the State, the focus has moved away from Shaktiman. It is going to be difficult to get the funds sanctioned,” Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Sadanand Date said.
The daily maintenance of the horse costs thousands of rupees, and Rs. 3.5 lakh in treatment costs is pending.
NGOs chip in “A few non-government organisations and individuals have been contributing for the treatment. Since the State is under President’s Rule, we will approach the Governor to get the money [Rs. 6-7 lakh] sanctioned for treatment,” Mr. Date said.
