Purnea, May 7: Ten-and-a-half-year-old Shakshi does not understand what’s death. She does not know anything about life either.

The younger of the two daughters of Ranjita and Deshbandhu Rai, residents of Purnea district, doesn’t even know she is a girl and is growing up like any other kid her age. Shakshi is in a persistent vegetative state for the past 10 years, a condition she slipped into after developing meningitis complications, with no help coming her way from anywhere.

Tired of running from one state to another in search of affordable medical assistance, her parents have now petitioned the district administration to either facilitate proper treatment for their daughter or grant permission for “euthanasia or mercy killing”.

“Whatever money we had, we have spent on Shakshi’s treatment but her condition hasn’t improved. Our deteriorating economic condition has compelled us to make a demand for either medical aid or the permission to opt for mercy killing,” Shakshi’s parents told The Telegraph.

The Rais have twice petitioned to the district magistrate’s janata darbar — in 2009 and on February 3, 2011 — explaining the complicated health condition of their daughter and asking for grants to approach bigger medical institutes for treatment.

In the latest application, they have gone on to demand that if there is no provision of medical aid for patients like Shakshi, then the government should grant them the permission for “euthanasia” for their daughter. No action has been taken on their application so far.

Shakshi has been bed-ridden since she was six months old. She was a healthy child before being diagnosed with meningitis.

Shakshi’s mother Ranjita rushed her to Siliguri’s North Bengal Clinic after the kid came down with high fever and started frothing at the mouth.

There she was told that Shakshi was suffering from post-encephalitis but the treatment failed to provide any relief. The Rais then approached a doctor in Patna who diagnosed Shakshi with post meningitis and later she was referred to Varanasi for specialised treatment.

Ranjita said doctors at Singh Time Research Centre, Varanasi, had in 2001 suggested brain operation of her daughter but the cost would have come to Rs 8 to 10 lakh. Deshbandhu Rai, an advocate in the Purnea district court, said he did not have the money to go for the surgery and the doctors too were not sure of the success of the operation.

Right now, Shakshi is under the treatment of a doctor in Ranchi but her condition has not shown any sign of improvement. Shakshi is almost in a comatose state, she can’t walk or talk or even move a limb or a finger. All she feels is pain and that too she can’t express in words or gestures. She lies in bed with tears in her eyes as her mother feeds her semi-fluid food.

Senior physician of Purnea Sadar Hospital Dr C.M. Singh said Shakshi is suffering from “post meningitis neurological deficit”, a persistent vegetative state, from which she can recover to a great extent if provided proper medical treatment.

“Its treatment is possible at higher medical colleges and a ray of hope of getting cured is still there for the patient right now,” he added.

According to Dr Singh, Shakshi should immediately be shifted to Purnea Sadar Hospital that has a mental rehabilitation centre under the aegis of Red Cross Society. It is meant for children who are physically or mentally challenged and they are nursed free of cost.

Purnea district magistrate and collector N. Saravana Kumar said he was not aware of any such petition. He told The Telegraph that medical aid would definitely be extended to the patient if her parents brought detailed information regarding her condition. “There are provisions under the chief minister’s relief fund and the district magistrate’s relief fund and in conformity with the need, support would be provided,” he added.