Members of the Hriday Mitra Pratishthan will launch an agitation to protest against the state government's attitude towards patients suffering from cancer, kidney and heart ailments.

Managing trustee of the Pratishthan Shrikant Mundada said the Siddhivinayak Mandir Nyas at Prabhadevi used to provide financial aid of Rs20,000 to patients suffering from cancer, kidney and heart diseases. "However, this help has stopped since November 2008," he said, explaining that the finances of the temple trust are being managed by the state law and judiciary department of the state government.

"We have received complaints from many patients who had sought help from the temple trust," he said, explaining the financial aid is generally given to poor and needy patients.

He said that in order to attract the attention of the authorities towards this issue, he has invited applications from patients who have been denied the financial aid. "We will collect all these applications and send them to chief minister Ashok Chavan. Similarly, all the patients will also send a postcard to the chief minister pressing for the same," he said.

Patients who have been denied the aid can send in their application to Hridya Mitra Pratishthan, 3rd floor, Manik Prabhu Complex, Narayan Peth or call on 9822041759. (DNA Correspondent/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication)