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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state...

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state between 2021-2024.   When asked for his reactions, Fadnavis told media-persons in Nagpur that he had not read the letter, but the issue raised is important and he would reply to it. Fadnavis stated that the NCRB has also provided the reasons why the kids go ‘missing’, how they return and the period, ranging from 3 days to 18 months.   Dwelling on the sufficiency of the NCRB figures, he contended that they reflect only complaints formally registered by the police and thousands of cases may never be reported.   On the ‘rescue, return and reunion’ of such missing children, he pointed to the sheer psychological trauma they may have suffered and sought to know how such child-lifter networks continued to thrive openly and blatantly.   The MNS chief targeted what he claimed was the “state’s lack of proactive measures to identify and dismantle child-begging rackets” as many juveniles can be seen begging at railway stations, bus stands, traffic signals, often accompanied by adults with doubtful authenticity.   “If some woman claims to be the child’s relative or guardian, should the government not order a thorough probe? Is it inappropriate to consider even a DNA test in suspicious cases,” Raj Thackeray demanded.   Slamming the government and the Opposition, he lamented how both sides failed to prioritise such urgent social issues in the legislature where discussions centre around partisan sparring.   The letter also mentions attempts by the Centre to coordinate with states on the ‘missing or trafficked children’, regretting how political upmanships and symbolic debates prevent meaningful action on the ground.   The NCRB said that Maharashtra has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of ‘missing children’, particularly in urban centres like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.   Simultaneously, experts, child rights NGOs and activists have warned about trafficking networks that exploit poverty, migration and weak law enforcement and low convictions, despite official rescue missions or rehab efforts.   In his appeal, Raj Thackeray called upon Fadnavis to take concrete, visible measures rather than discussions and conventions. “Maharashtra expects decisive steps from you, not speeches. Jai Maharashtra,” he signed off.     In October 2023,Sharad Pawar red-flagged ‘missing girls-women’ This is the second major social cause by a political leader, two years after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar had red-flagged nearly 20,000 ‘missing women and girls’ from the state between Jan-May 2023.   In the present instance, Raj Thackeray said that “behind the statistics lies a far more disturbing reality involving organised, inter-state gangs that kidnap children, physically abuse them and force them into begging rings”.   “Little kids are assaulted, made to beg and shifted across states. Groups of children disappear suddenly, and the government appears unable, or unwilling, to grasp the seriousness of what is happening,” said Thackeray in a strong tone.

Western India’s first double bridging heart surgery

Anvay Mulay

Dr. Anvay Mulay, Director of Cardiac Surgery, and his team of advance cardiac surgery team at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, have successfully performed a ground-breaking procedure using the Double Bridging Technique to support the left and right ventricles of three patients suffering from severe heart failure. This marks the first time this advanced technique to been used in Western India, providing a second lease of life to patients who were in dire need of immediate care.


All three patients arrived at the hospital’s heart failure clinic in critical condition, requiring urgent evaluation. Each underwent a thorough assessment, including right heart catheterization, donor-specific antibody testing, and other comprehensive evaluations to determine their eligibility for heart transplant. These tests were crucial, given the severity of their conditions and their individual medical histories.


One of the patients, Rohit (name changed) Mumbai resident, had been battling heart issues for nearly a decade. Earlier this year, his heart function deteriorated to a dangerous level, with only 10% of it still working. The medical team employed the Double Bridging Technique, an uncommon method that uses ventricular assist devices (VADs) to support both sides of the heart—a departure from the usual practice of supporting only one side.


In addition, two other young patients, who had no prior history of heart issues, underwent similar surgeries, further highlighting the uniqueness of these cases.


One patient Amit, 41 (name changed) shared their experience: “I had been struggling with a persistent cough and chest discomfort. After visiting another doctor, I was referred to HN Reliance for advanced care. Several tests revealed that fluid buildup in my chest had significantly weakened my heart’s ability to pump, and I needed a transplant. I’m now recovering and doing much better.”


The other young patient (17) discovered their heart condition unexpectedly through routine blood work. His father Avinash (name changed) recalled, “We had no idea anything was wrong until we got the blood test results. It was a shock, but thanks to the hospital’s guidance, my child received the necessary treatment and is now recovering.”


The evaluation and procedure were led by Dr. Mulay, a highly experienced cardiac surgeon with more than 30 years in the field and over 10,000 successful surgeries. Known for his expertise in handling complex cardiac cases, Dr. Mulay emphasized the importance of acting quickly, stating that even a 24-hour delay could have proven fatal in these cases.


“To stabilize the patients while waiting for donor organs, the medical team initially used a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, as their conditions worsened, it became clear that additional support was required. We quickly introduced a right ventricular assist device (RVAD), and in one case, we converted the patient’s extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to a biventricular support system,” said Dr. Anvay Mulay, Director of Cardiac Surgery at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital.

 

About H.N. Reliance Foundation: Located in Girgaon, Mumbai, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital is a 345-bed, multi-Speciality tertiary care hospital with top level expertise in areas of Cardiac Sciences, Gastroenterology & Hepatobiliary Sciences, Liver Transplant, Nephro-Urology, Neuro Sciences, Oncology, Orthopaedics & Spine, Woman & Child Health and Critical Care. The Hospital has progressive diagnostic services, including Laboratories, Radiology & Imaging, and Nuclear Medicine. This is a technologically-advanced institution designed to international standards and the most stringent criteria in infrastructure, medical care, fire-safety norms, and environmental guidelines.


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