Desperate to be close to their conjoined twins in Hyderabad and take personal care of them, parents of Veena and Vani are praying for a job in the capital city to be able to move out of Mahabubabad.
Murali, father of the 16-year-old girls, has appealed to the State government to provide him a suitable job since he and his wife, Nagalaxmi, have been finding it tough to visit the twins once a month at a children’s home in Ameerpet in the city. Presently, he works as an agriculture labourer and autorickshaw driver in Beerisettigudem near Danthalapalli village of Mahabubabad district.
15-year battle
Murali and Nagalaxmi had their conjoined twins on October 16, 2003, and ever since, have been going door-to-door for their treatment. The State government extended help to the couple and doctors from various foreign countries examined the case.
However, they all agreed that a surgery to separate the conjoined twins was ‘critical’.
Speaking to The Hindu , Murali recalled how the doctors warned him of the risks involved in the surgery to separate the two. “They said they can give 100% guarantee for one child’s life and 80% for both. The government did not agree to that and hence, the surgery was put off,” he said.
‘They miss us’
Murali said the girls were missing them and as parents, they too were longing to stay close to them. “Now, we are not allowed to stay overnight at the Children’s Home. If the government gives me a job in Hyderabad, we will be able to shift out of our village and look after our children,” he said, adding that his petition was recently submitted to officials.
The couple has four daughters – the eldest is an Intermediate student and the second is in seventh class.
