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| Michael, Theruvil Thaivalakam House, Puthukkuruchi, Thiruvananthapuram |
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He was an illegal immigrant in Japan. Yet, when an accident at the worksite paralysed him below neck, what made everyone go out of the way to protect his ‘rights’. Perhaps his will power. Or how could one explain that his most potent advocates are the Japanese labour unions which are usually opposed to imported labour, let alone an illegal immigrant. Or how could one explain that the Japanese Health Insurance Company – whose policy holder he is not – has already spent about Rs.2 crores for his treatment.
Michael, a young man from the coastal area of Puthukuruchi in Thiruvananthapuram, had left the shores of Kerala with a false visa to enter Japan. After dissolving into the anonymity of crowds, he found employment with an automobile disposing unit, where cars are pressed into cakes of metal. With neither visa, nor work permit, or insurance or labour union membership or knowledge of Japanese, Michael was a perfect choice for the owner to get things done cheaply.
But unfortunately for both of them, one noon, the rope broke and a car fell on top of Michael, who was standing underneath. When taken to the hospital in Sukuba, he was almost clinically dead. Well almost, for there was a faint movement of the eye.
Joison from Thrissur, working as an executive in Japan, chanced to visit the hospital in Sukuba, where Michael was undergoing treatment. While the hospital was very keen to discharge the patient without health insurance, Joison opposed the move knowing fully well that he was shouldering a heavy responsibility.
All the Malayalees that Joison spoke to, tried to dissuade him. But later they too joined the vigil. The hospital too revised their stand. A labour union worker helped him become a policy holder, post-accident. And yet the policy was accepted and he was granted lifetime salary for ‘invalid labourer’ by the Labour Ministry. A special room and special treatment were provided to him. A guru of natural healing visited him and helped his blood circulation improve. The Malayalees found out his address, located the family and helped to clear his debts back home.
How did these things happened by themselves? At least partly due to Michael’s will power. With indomitable will, when he utters that he won’t die without seeing his children, even death dare not enter the door.
Courtesy: O.R.Ramachandran (text and photo), Mathrubhumi, August 11, 2002
Contributed by: Administrator
