*Far-flung areas victim of bureaucratic inertia
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 14: Contrary to the oft-repeated statements mentioning health as priority sector, establishment of Trauma and Accidental Hospitals, health centres and up-gradation of Medical Air Centers in the far-off areas of Jammu and Kashmir are under ‘active consideration’ of the Health and Medical Education Department during the past half a decade.
In the year 2010, the then MLA from Nobra, Tsetan Namgyal raised the issue of setting up of Medical Aid Centres and up-gradation of Primary Health Centres in various villages of his constituency on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.
In response to his demand, the Government stated that proposal for establishment/up-gradation of Medical Aid Centres at various locations in Nobra Sub-Division was under the active consideration of the Health and Medical Education Department.
However, despite lapse of more than half a decade the process of ‘active consideration’ has not concluded as a result of which healthcare facilities in various remote parts of Nobra Sub-Division have remained a distant dream.
Similarly, the Government had stated that proposal for up-gradation of Medical Aid Centre in remote corner of Nobra to Primary Health Centre was taken up with the Planning and Development Department for accord of concurrence but the sanction was awaited. Even after lapse of 6 years, the Planning and Development Department has not found it appropriate to put seal of approval on the proposal.
The MLA from Banihal Vikar Rasool in the year 2011 had on the floor of Assembly asked the Government to explain the reasons for not establishing Trauma Hospital in the accidental prone Banihal area on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
While responding to the query, the Government had informed the Legislature that pursuant to the decision taken in the District Development Board review meeting of Ramban district held on February 11, 2011, necessary action was being taken to formulate a Detailed Project Report for construction of Trauma Hospital at Banihal.
However, despite lapse of five years, no progress has been made to establish much needed Trauma Hospital. In this way, the Government has not only disrespected its own stance taken in the Assembly but also undermined the decision of District Development Board.
The then MLA from Kishtwar, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo had in the year 2011 demanded establishment of new Medical Blocks in Warwan, Dachhan, Marwah and Nagsani areas of the district and the Government had informed the House that proposal for creation of new Medical Blocks by making them co-terminus with the NES blocks was submitted to the Planning and Development Department, which raised some observations.
Though it was stated that Health and Medical Education Department was reframing the proposal for submission to the Planning and Development Department but what happened thereafter is not known to anybody and the demand of vast population of remote areas of Kishtwar has remained unfulfilled.
Similarly, the then MLA Radhay Sham Sharma had in the year 2011 demanded establishment of Trauma Hospital at Sunderbani in Nowshera constituency. He and the House were informed that under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Establishment of Trauma Centres on National Highway, a Detailed Project Report costing Rs 98.15 lakh for construction of Trauma Centre at Sunderbani was submitted to the Union Health Ministry for accord of sanction and release of funds. But the much-needed Trauma Centre has remained only a demand till date despite lapse of half a decade.
Another former MLA, Yash Pal Kundal was conveyed by the Government in the year 2014 that establishment of Accidental Hospital at Manwal was under active consideration of the Government. But the hospital has remained on the official files till date.
The sitting MLA from Akhnoor, Rajeev Sharma was conveyed last year that a proposal with regard to the establishment of Blood Bank at Sub-District Hospital Akhnoor was under active consideration of the Health and Medical Education Department. But, despite lapse of more than one year the ‘active consideration’ process is still on and when it will conclude remains a million dollar question.
All these instances clearly indicate that not only the Health and Medical Education Department, even other key departments like Finance and Planning have not shown any seriousness in making available healthcare facilities in far-off areas of the State as desired by the people as well as their elected representatives and these departments have preferred to sit over the files instead of according prompt sanction by making available sufficient funds.
“It is due to bureaucratic inertia that vast population of the State has been deprived of much-needed healthcare facilities”, sources remarked.
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