Pic: Justin D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/MS)
Udupi, Oct 1: Yuvashakti Karnataka will hold 12 hours of hunger strike from 7 am to 7 pm in front of Martyrs Memorial ground Ajjarkad here on Friday, October 2 demanding the upgradation of district hospital Ajjarkad to super specialty hospital and provide good facilities at the hospital, said state president Pramod Uchil.
He was speaking at Udupi press club here on Thursday and said that the Yuvashakti Karnataka will be holding a hunger strike with the theme 'Mathadu Udupi'.
He alleged that there is nexus between government and the private hospital which is why even after many years the condition of the hospital remained the same. "I believe that there is politics involved in it," Uchil said.
Yuvashakti Karnataka is pressurizing the government to upgrade the district hospital to a super specialty hospital. Authorities lack will power to take the work forward. There were 11 in charge ministers, 16 district administration, 19 zilla panchayat presidents, 12 zilla panchayat CEO who served in two decades in Udupi but nothing has changed in the hospital except the name board, he said.
In 2001, the Karnataka government announced that the hospital will be upgraded with 200 beds. Since then, all health ministers have been repeating the same.
"During this corona pandemic period people are very much in need of beds in hospitals with good facilities. But due to the lack of facilities in the government hospitals, poor people are suffering. Many government buildings came up in Udupi but the hospital's condition remained the same," said Uchil.
"Even though the district administration did not permit the protest, we will still hold the protest against the government to fulfill our demand," he said.
Mahammed Sheesh, Habeeb Udupi, Belkale Sharath Shetty, Ajay Poojary were present for the meet.
Cabinet ministry approval pending, MLA Raghupati Bhat
“The project of upgrading district hospital in the city is already given a go ahead by the finance department. Approval cabinet is only pending now," said MLA Raghupati Bhat.
Bhat also clarified that this proposal will be presented in the next cabinet meeting and approval will be sought and thereafter the same will be implemented.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has assured that the district hospital will be upgraded while discussing the budget session in the assembly as the same was discussed in the assembly session also. Accordingly, the district hospital will be upgraded as a 250-bed hospital. Finance department has already given the go ahead for the project which will cost Rs 250 crore for the state exchequer. Only the approval of minister cabinet is pending. This will be done in the next cabinet meeting. MLA Raghupati Bhat has requested those who have planned to hold protest and fasting in this regard to withdraw the same.