LAHORE - Veteran stage artist Babbu Baral who spent a good part of his life in insinuating into the minds of his audience and brining a smile to peoples faces through his performance at theatres, film and television, has been suffering from chronic renal failure (kidney problem) for the past two years - but doesnt have the resources to meet the expenses of this deadly disease. Confined to a bed at his two-room flat near Shah Noor Studio, he has to go for dialysis, twice a week, at Sharif Medical City in Raiwind, owned by the Sharif family. Although the facility is free-of-cost, he has to pay for other medicines. And he says he doesnt have the resources to foot the bill. The federal and the Punjab governments had given him Rs 700,000 for his treatment. However, the poor artist spent the same in clearing his outstanding dues. Now, he says, he is penniless. He was the sole bread-earner of his six-member family including two adopted children. He had adopted a girl and a boy when he was earning a lot from his profession. Two of his children have dropped out of school as he could not afford their fees. When this correspondent visited him on Tuesday, he was sitting on a wheelchair, looking pale and frail. The already slim artist had lost much of his weight and was unable to sit without support from the others. Even to be able to keep sitting for a while, his family had to massage his body parts. Talking to this scribe, he said that he could not afford the high-priced medicines as it had become also very difficult for him to run his house budget and to nourish his family. He regretted that there was no respect for artists in the country, saying that not any single cultural institution bothered to see him. CM Punjab Shehbaz Shrif had promised my free treatment and transplant but he did not do so, he said and added that he was in dire need of transplantation which could give relief to him to spend his life. About his fellow artists, Babbu said they were not able to help him as they were also compelled to live in reduced circumstances. He said all the organizations of artists were fake, as they were not doing any thing for the welfare of the artists. Only Umer Sharif and Kamal Ahmed Rizvi from artists community had helped me, he said. Babbu who started his career from theatre in 1981 by performed a role in a stage play Bhukhey Hath Betaira and has done more than 400 stage dramas including Shartia Mithey, Kuch Na Kaho, Mundey Shararti, Ashiqo Gham Na Kro. He is one of those actors who make fun by criticizing and taunting themselves instead of vulgar dialogs. Responding a question regarding current theatre, Babbu said that commercialization and vulgar dance had destroyed the stage institution. He said the producers of stage dramas wanted only to make money, having no interest in educating and entertaining the masses. He said the government should make a policy and the stage actors should be provided training to end vulgarity in stage dramas. Babbu Baral demanded the government to continue his financial support until his complete recovery. He also appealed to his fans and general masses for financial support. People wishing to help out the poor ailing actor could contact him on his cell-number 0301-4604058.