Murdoch chiros to help India’s rock breakers

by Justin Biggar

May 8, 2008

IMAGINE as a child having to spend your days bent over in pain, flimsy pick axe in hand, crushing rocks for little to no reward.  For thousands of Indian children, this is the daily reality of their impoverished existence.

But a group of Murdoch University chiropractic students are hoping to provide respite from these bleak living conditions through a number of free health clinics.

Travelling to Siliguri in northern India in June, 24 chiropractic students and five practicing chiropractors will put the clinics on for the children and adults who toil every day on the rock quarries.

“We’ll be seeing hundreds of patients every day,” said chiropractic student Andrew Treloar.  “The aim of the trip is to provide medical care to communities that do not have access.”

Many of the quarry workers are second generation illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which poses a problem when it comes to accessing government support.

“Because they’re not legitimate citizens they do not receive health care,” Mr Treloar said.

This is the third time Murdoch has sent students over to India. Fifth year student Andrew Wilkinson took the trip in 2007 and described the joy of meeting the labourers who so willingly placed their health in the student’s hands.

“The biggest reward of the trip was just meeting the people, who are the lowest caste of India and seeing how much they trusted us and how they interacted with us,” Mr Wilkinson said.

As each student pays their own airfare, the group is putting on a series of events to raise money. Mr Treloar encourages people to get down to the Deen, in Northbridge at 8pm on May 16. There, $20 will get you free beer, wine and champagne.

For further details on how to make a donation, hit www.oomph.com.au.