Xtraspecial
Graduated from NIT Rourkela, mining engineer Sanjay Prasad’s last job in the mining sector was that of a first class mines manger. He served in the mining industry for more than 20 years. Exactly seven years ago, in October 2018, he experienced sudden back ache while on duty which was found to be a bacterial infection caused due to Nocardia bacteria, found in soil rich in organic matter. Nocardiosis (disease caused by the bacteria) can affect the lungs, brain and skin.
While the disease can be treated with commonly available antibiotics, four out of 10 cases can be fatal, and eight out of 10 die after developing Nocardiosis of the brain or the spinal cord. The risk for death is much higher for patients with very weak immune system. Luckily Sanjay, though affected with Nocardiosis of the spine, survived miraculously, but unfortunately it left him paralysed below the waist.
Sanjay recalls the day in October 2018 when he suddenly got a severe back ache and had to rush to a hospital where the doctor, after due examination, admitted him. An MRI test of his spine was done. It was later that they came to know that there was a spine problem.
“At that time I was working at Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Later on I consulted at Victor Hospital in Goa and got admitted in this hospital. I was in the hospital for nearly two weeks. Then I was shifted to Sir Gangaram Hospital in Delhi as the doctors could not get to know the exact problem with me. The doctor in Gangaram Hospital advised me to immediately go for spine surgery, to know the exact problem and to save my life. I was operated on October 20, 2018 and had to remain hospitalised for three months. After that I returned to my residence in Ponda. Since my surgery, I am not able to walk, and have to use a wheelchair.”
Sanjay was working as a mines manager when he got infected in the spine. He worked in several companies as a first class mines manager from 1999 to 2019. “Before my spinal cord injury I was working as a deputy general manager in Aditya Birla group but after the disability I had to resign. Because I was not able to walk, I lost my job. I faced lot of financial problems as I was the lone earning person in the family. At present, I am working in an unorganised sector to fulfil the family responsibilities of my wife and two sons,” said Sanjay who is still facing financial problems. He is not a beneficiary of any government schemes, too.
Narrating his story, Sanjay remembers how he struggled for four years, to at least sit without any support. He continued taking physiotherapy for all these years. The year 2023 saw some improvement as he started sitting without support. Then his search for a job started. Finally in 2024 he found some work in an unorganised sector. His part-time job and tuitions earn him some income. But not much change has occurred in his life. The challenges remain the same. But he has not given up.
“I still have no sensation below my hip. I am taking continuous physiotherapy and have faith in God that one day again I will recover myself. I am very thankful to my wife Soni Kumari “ a hard-working woman without whom it was not possible to cope up with my physical disability. She is a graduate in history honours and a home-maker. I have two sons, 19 and 13, both of whom are studying,” shares Sanjay who got motivated to some extent after joining a group of PwDs and meeting some of its members. In his school and college time, he used to play cricket, football and badminton. Currently all he can do as a hobby is to watch movies.
Disabled since October 2018, it’s been seven complete year. The disruption in life is still not overcome. Completing his engineering in 1997 Sanjay had taken up a job at Murali Cement in Nagpur. After that he joined Salgaonkars as a mining engineer in 2004. Later he joined Triveni Earth Movers and there after the Aditya Birla Group where he served till 2019 before he said goodbye to the mining sector.
Sanjay had received the first class mines manager certificate after passing all India competitions. His certificate was issued by the Director of Mines Safety, Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Ministry of Labour and Employment, government of India. The condition to work in a mine is a physical fitness certificate the DGMS and as Sanjay is not fully recovered yet, and uses wheelchair for mobility, his wait will be big.
