Padmakshi N, an aided school teacher who allegedly contracted COVID after attending the Karnataka government's Vidyagama programme, died on Friday morning, after a cardiac arrest. The teacher who hails from Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada was tested positive for COVID-19 last month and was admitted to Indiana hospital, Mangaluru.
In a Facebook post, her daughter, Aishwarya Jain had blamed Vidyagama programme for her mother's condition. The Vidyagama programme was designed specially for children whose parents were labours and could not afford to buy phones, television or any other form of electronic gadgets. Even though Padmakshi tested negative two days ago, her lungs were infected due to the coronavirus according to the doctors who treated her. In fact, sources say that the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district was making arrangements to shift her to Bengaluru for ECMO therapy.
In her post, Aishwarya had sought help from Suresh Kumar S, Primary and Secondary Education Minister. She also mentioned that her mother was safe and did not have any health issues before conducting the Vidyagama classes and believes that she contacted the virus by travelling in public transport to conduct these classes. In addition, her father Shashikanth, who is also a government school teacher was also tested positive.
"We are struggling to pay the hospital bills along with the unbearable stress due to the ongoing situation. We need a helping hand right now," reads the post, addressed to Suresh Kumar. "Since my mother was healthy before Vidyagama and it's clear that your programme is responsible for this whole scenario, I request financial help from your side. Hope the government will not let its teachers down," she wrote.
After the post went viral, Suresh Kumar who has also been admitted in the hospital due to COVID-19, immediately reached out to the Deputy Commissioner of Mangaluru and has asked them to ensure that the teachers get the best treatment to overcome the disease. The Government of Karnataka had also promised to pay the medical bills that were incurred by the teacher at the hospital.
