-after beating on the back by foster parent
DANIEL Dilchand, 12, of Lot 619 ‘C’ Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, is like any other teenager, but his activities are limited.
He sat silently in his newly acquired wheelchair and watched around sadly, as the children around him played on Sunday.
Daniel is a student of Tucville Secondary School, another city ward, and before he was gifted the wheelchair his mother, Surujdai (only name given) used to carry him to school everyday on her back and sometimes, he was also taken on a bicycle to and from school by his siblings.
He currently lives in a small, wooden shack he shares with his two brothers, Alan, 16 and Samuel, eight, (his eldest brother Andy Dilchand, 21, died after he had complained of feeling unwell on Sunday morning) and his mother and stepfather.
His sister, who is about 12 years old now, was adopted after being taken to the police station, and later to the doctor who said that the child was malnourished and severely assaulted. Her fragile body showed signs of a severe beating.
Daniel was paralysed after he was beaten in the back with a ‘scrubbing board’ (a board used for washing clothes) by a woman, whom his mother had given him away to since she was unable to take care of her five children.
Daniel said that about three years ago his mother gave him away to a woman, who also resides in Sophia and while there he was often physically assaulted and one day the woman, in a fit of rage struck him in the back, which caused his spinal cord to be shifted out of its position and as a result, he is confined to a wheelchair.
Daniel was returned to his mother’s care after he became paralysed..
The spritely teen was smiling brightly on Sunday when this newspaper visited. He was at his neighbour’s house surrounded by a group of children, who were running around the yard playing various games.
Daniel, a bit shy and timid told the Guyana Chronicle that he would like to walk again someday but whenever he tries to stand up and walk a few steps he usually falls down because he experiences a lot of pain.
He added that he was gifted a wheelchair about a week ago by a welfare officer, who often visits him, a gift he is thankful for since he can move around freely now without the aid of others, whom he was dependent on before.
Presently, he spends most of his time at a kind-hearted neighbour, who has seven children of her own, but still provides whatever she can afford to Daniel, since she understands his plight and wishes that some organisation or someone can provide a better home for the teen.
She said: “He is a bright boy but he needs special care and attention, Daniel needs love like every other child because right now he is weak as a result of his poor diet.”
His mother and stepfather were released from police custody on Sunday evening following the death of Daniel’s eldest brother.Daniel’s home is the scene of many fights between his abusive stepfather, who beats his mother usually after a loud drinking spree and he and his siblings are often locked out of the house.Daniel is often beaten by his stepfather, who is an alcoholic.
Residents said that they know the plight of the children but there is little they can do, because when help is offered the stepfather usually takes the money and buys a drink of rum. They  would like to see the children  taken away from the environment and placed in proper care. In this regard, they would be happy if the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security could intervene and take measures to help this child and his siblings.