FROM OUR CORRESPOPNDENT
GAURISAGAR, September 11: In a State where hundreds of patients die due to lack of access to proper medical care, a 30-beded civil hospital built by the State government at a cost of Rs several lakh at Khamukh in Sivasagar district is still not ready to take in patients — 25 years after the projects were started.
Khanmukh is a remote ,flood-hit area in Sivasagar. After 69 years of country’s independence the people of the area have been deprived of proper medical facilities.
For any medical treatment people have to rush to Sibsagar Civil Hospital, which is more than 30 kilometers away from the area.
The construction work of Khamukh Primary Health Centre, foundation stone of which was laid on June 3, 1992 by then Chief Minister late Hiteswar Saikia, was completed in 2010. Even though stage was set to open the hospital for patients on August 3, 2010, due to land dispute the plan had to be cancelled.
It may be mentioned that with a view to set up a hospital at Khanmukh 25 years ago a public meeting was held at Khanmukh Tiniali on September 11, 1991 under the chairmanship of social worker late Nila Kanta Gogoi.
In the meeting the farmers of No 1 Khamukh Mout village Deben Borah, Roben Borah, Badan Borah and Mongala Borah had provided five bighas of their valuable land under Jakaichuk Mouza in Mout Gharphalia village (Miyadi Patta no 105) in Sivasagar revenue circle in exchange of recruit them in grade IV post. The public meeting adopted a proposal to appoint land donor family in grade IV post in the proposed hospital and sent its copy to the authorities concerned.
But when the department concerned has not taken any steps for engagement of the farmers in the hospital, the land donor families had staged protest following which the authorities had to cancel the plan of opening the hospital.
Since then the land donor family locked the hospital rooms and it’s main entrance gate.
The members of the land donor families had told reporters that they would protest against iuguration of the hospital until and unless absorb their family either in grade IV post of the said hospital or any other government department.
They even had told the Sentinel that on December 1, 2008 that an interview was held at Sivasagar circuit house for recruitment of grade IV under health department. The candidates of Land donor family appeared in the interview .They alleged that depriving them health department had appointed outside candidate. The land donor family also met then state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 17, 2010 in Guwahati and demanded to absorb their family either in grade IV post of the hospital or any other govt. department but in vain.
A public meeting was held at the hospital premises on Januray 31, 2014 under the chairmanship of Utpal Duarah, president, Khamukh GP.
The meeting adopted a proposal to open the hospital immediately by recruiting the members of the land donor facilities in any government department based on their education qualification. But the authorities turned a deaf ear to it. After a long interval instead of political leaders willingness Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittral took initiative to open the hospital by discussing with land donor family on August 31. The donor family asked the Deputy Commissioner to absorb the victimized land owner family either in grade IV post of the hospital or any other Govt. departments. Deputy Commissioner told that he can provide temporary job, canteen in the hospital campus, besides if their children comes to learn Nurse, driver or any other self employment trade he can provide them. But the members of the land donor families were adamant their demand seeking only permanent job. The Deputy Commissioner also asked Khamukh GP President Utpal Duarah to hold a public meeting on this regard. Following DC’s order Khamukh GP had organized a public meeting on September 3 at Gaon Panchayat office under the chairmanship of Utpal Duarah. In the meeting Robin Hazarika ,Headmaster, Khamukh Girls High School, Deva Mahanta ,former scribe and social worker Mohan Gogoi urged upon the land donor family members to discussed with district administration through understanding for opening the hospital. In the meeting on behalf of land donor family Devan Borah frankly said that until recruiting them in permanent job they will protest in opening of the hospital. Another land donor member Arun Borah said that until and unless permanent jobs are provided to them , they will oppose opening of the hospital . Khanmukh GP President submitted the public meeting proceedings and proposal on September 5 to the Deputy Commissioner Sivasagar. Now people are waiting eagerly Sivasagar DC’s initiative in this reagard.