Spare a thought for Nadarajan

K. Kandiah

WHEN he was fit and strong, Nadarajan Devarajo sacrificed for the country as a national athlete. Today, at 35 years old, he is an invalid.

Nadarajan's passion for sports in general and athletics in particular was immense and he also had dreams of seeing his children run for Malaysia.

Tragically, a freak accident made the sprinter an invalid for life. He now needs 24-hour care and he cannot speak properly.

He cannot recognise faces but could recall if narrated. His memory remains intact except for the accident. The badly damaged part of his brain was removed.

The former bank officer was in a coma for six months and doctors have given up hope on his recovery.

Nadarajan suffered more misery when he fell and broke his leg during a physiotherapy session.

He lives with his wife Shamala Dorasamy, 30, a homemaker, and four children, Jivithra, 8, Lineysa, 7, and four-year-old twins Peravinash and Peravishah on a Socso aid of RM1,126 a month.

The Socso help is not enough. His medical bills, special diet milk, and pampers alone cost more than RM700 per month.

He applied to the welfare department for aid but has not received any response.

The wheelchair-bound Nadarajan and his family are now living with his sister D. Piramila, 34, who is a nurse at a private hospital, on the 21st floor of a rented apartment.

Nadarajan's plight is among those highlighted in the National Athletes' Charity Foundation's (Yakeb) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia donation drive.

He hopes the government would include ex-athletes of earlier years, especially the permanently disabled in its pension scheme.

"We should not be forgotten. We also need help. We, too, sacrificed to bring glory to Malaysia," he said.

"It is very difficult for me to maintain my family with the Socso money alone. My wife cannot go to work as she has to take care of me.

Nadarajan, with his wife and children, has to manage life on a monthly Socso pension of RM1,126. — Pic: RAMDZAN MASIAM

"My family and I now have to 'tumpang' with my sister," he said.

Nadarajan won bronze in the 400m and silver in the 4x400m at the 1995 Chiangmai Sea Games and silver in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m gold at the 1997 Jakarta Sea Games.

He also represented Malaysia in the 1993 Asean Schools Athletics Championships in Jakarta, the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

The former Kepala Batas Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir schoolboy first came to prominence by winning the 400m in the 1993 National Junior Athletics Championships in Penang.

Two years later, he grabbed the gold in the same event at the National Open Athletics Championships and set a Penang state record of 47 seconds which has remained unbroken till today.

Teacher-cum-athletics coach S. Ramachandran, who discovered Nadarajan's talent, said the latter was a dedicated athlete who worked hard to achieve success.

Those who wish to contribute to the 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign can send their donations to Yakeb's Maybank account number 564847005696 or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, TAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs RM0.50.

For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or log on to www.yakeb.org.my.

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