Maharashtra CM’s wife steps in to help Chembur family

Vandana Davane said timely intervention by Amruta Fadnavis helped the family in getting Rs21 lakh waive off on a whopping Rs27 lakh bill generated by Lilavati hospital and research centre for treating her husband

Vandana Davane, a slum dweller from Chembur said timely intervention by Amruta Fadnavis helped the family in getting Rs21 lakh waive off on a whopping Rs27 lakh bill generated by Lilavati hospital and research centre for treating her husband Uttam. (Pratik Chorge/HT PHOTO)

Vandana Davane, a slum dweller from Chembur who was about to sell her shanty to clear medical bills for her ailing husband (now deceased), can’t stop thanking and blessing Amruta Fadnavis, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ better half.

She said timely intervention by Amruta Fadnavis helped the family in getting Rs21 lakh waive off on a whopping Rs27 lakh bill generated by Lilavati hospital and research centre for treating her husband Uttam. Vandana said her husband was admitted to the hospital on July 19 after he fractured his left leg in a freak mishap at their residence.

Before shifting to Lilavati, Uttam was treated at a local hospital in Chembur. But the doctors there suggested he be shifted to a better facility after they discovered a blood clot. Vandana said she managed to raise Rs6 lakh by selling her gold jewellery and donations from relatives, but decided to sell their shanty upon realising that she was way short of the mark.

“We then came in contact with social activist Rafik Mulani, who managed to contact Amrutatai for help via BJP leader Mayatai Hade. Amrutatai coordinated with the hospital management and got the remaining amount waived off. Though we could not save my husband, her timely intervention saved the roof over our head,” said Vandana.

‘A humanitarian’

Hade told HT that it isn’t for the first time that Amruta Fadnavis, vice president of a private bank, has helped patients in distress. Mulani added that the management agreed to waive off the remaining amount only because of her intervention.

“I came to know about the patient through Mayatai and spoke to the office-bearers at Lilavati. Besides, a request was also sent to the office of water resources minister, Girish Mahajan, to follow up the case. Not only the Davane family, but we have been helping genuine patients for years now,” said Amruta Fadnavis.

Ajaykumar Pandey, vice president, Lilavati hospital, said, “Since the patient’s family could not afford to pay the bill and also failed to fit under indigent patient scheme, we decided to waive off the pending amount.”