Govt. claims are hollow, need concrete action: Protesters
TAUSEEF AHMAD
BANDIPORA, Aug 4: People from Bagtore village of Gurez district Bandipora on Thursday staged a peaceful protest demonstration against the Jammu and Kashmir government demanding a requisite number of doctors in their New Type Primary Health Center.
A peaceful protest was held by hundreds of people of Block Bagtore Kanzalwan near Kanzalwan TCP on Gurez-Bandipora Road in which District Development Council member Gurez Tasleema Begum, Block Development Council Chairman Block Bagtore, also participated.
The protesters raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir Government saying that doctors posted in the hospital are too less than the required number, putting healthcare services in the area and the life of patients at peril.
Talking to Kashmir Despatch over phone, protesters said that a doctor who was working in Block Bagtore for the last several years has been transferred to another place yesterday.
The protesters further said that the demand for posting an adequate number of doctors in the hospital has been raised since the last several years but the government seems least bothered towards the issue and no one is paying any heed.
“The government’s claims to develop border areas is a hoax. We need concrete steps on the ground. Residents of Gurez are suffering to the hilt and the government seems least bothered about our plight,” a protester told Kashmir Despatch on phone.
They further accused the Government of having negligible concern towards the life of Border residents. “Only two doctors are posted here in NTPC Bagtore for the last several years from which now one has been transferred to another place,” DDC member Gurez Tasleema Begum told Kashmir Despatch.
Meanwhile talking to Kashmir Despatch BMO Gurez Dr.Tahira said that the order is from principal secretary health services to repatriate the doctors to their original places of posting. “The doctor had been deployed for the last several years in NTPC Bagtore but now after the order from higher ups all the attachments of doctors have been canceled and they have to join their original place of posting,” she added.
On the assurance of BMO concerned that another doctor will be posted in NTPHC Bagtore, the protest was called off, locals told Kashmir Despatch.
