Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: A tiff between the Minister in-charge PHE, Irrigation Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma and NC member Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri was visible again in the Upper House of the Legislature on the issue of alleged deteriorating condition of heath care and delivery system in South Kashmir.
Sham Lal, who was responding on behalf of Health Minister and the National Conference legislator Dr Veeri locked horns today for the third occasion in last few days in the House over different issues. In the Calling Attention Notice moved in the House, Dr Veeri invited the attention of the Government towards deteriorating situation in the Health care and delivery system in South Kashmir in general and in particular reference to Anantnag district. The member alleged that with less staff strength at District Hospital and Mother and Child Care Hospital at Anantnag, the peope of the larger areas up to Banihal, Wadwan and parts of Kishtwar are suffering. The Health Blocks of Bijbehara, PHCs- Marhama, Sirhama, and K-Kallan have not been provided sufficient staff, due to which the general public is facing lot of inconvenience.
The PHE Minister while responding on behalf of Health Minister said that Health Department was committed to provide better health care facilities to the common masses. In south Kashmir, the department is providing the health facilities to masses through three District Hospitals, 14 Sub District Hospitals. 115 PHCs and 358 Sub Centres.
He said in Anantnag one District Hospital and one Morth and Child Care Hospital is catering to the health care needs of the people including those from Banihal, Kishtwar and Wadwan. These institutions are equipped with adequate staff and equipment. He also gave the detail of the staff strength and list of machinery/ equipment at SDH Bijbehara and PHCs Marhama, Sirhama and K Kalan. However, vacant posts in these areas will also be filled up shortly as many posts of Gazetted and Non-Gaztetted cadre in the department have been referred to the recruiting agencies. South Kashmir will also get its due share, he added.
The NC member stood up and claimed that reply was not correct and satisfactory. He said when he takes up the issues of public importance he gets the reply of the same nature. He contested that minister in his reply was saying that adequate staff was posted in these hospitals and at the same time he was saying that vacant posts will be filled up. The reply was self contradictory. He pleaded the chair that when he contests for reply, some people take offensive posture and talk about keeping sanctity of the house.
Sham Lal then stood up and said there was no contraction at all, the member has the habit to press for every question and need to learn the rules regarding conduct of business and procedures of the house and also regarding sanctity of the house. This irked the member who shouted at the minister and both indulged in exchange of heated arguments. Lodging his strong protest the member then staged walk out. Interestingly, after about, half an hour, Dr Veeri then announced in the House that matter with the minister stand resolved.
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