Senior Citizens' Forum urges Barak legislators to take up issue with government

FUND CRUNCH IN CACHAR CANCER HOSPITAL

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

 SILCHAR, July 27: In an appeal addressed to all the fifteen MLAs of Barak Valley sent recently by post, all the members of Proactive Senior Citizens’ Forum (PSCF), requested the state law-makers to take up the issue of adequate fincial grant and aid as well as special grant to Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) to run the only cancer specialty hospital in this region which is from all accounts a people’s project. It has been stated that it is with the active support and dotions of all sections of people that this hospital located at Meherpur near this town has become a reality, almost from a scratch.

 In fact, it is a dream fulfilled. Today, this hospital can boast of a place of pride and honor among all the cancer institutes of the country. Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) is the most affordable and efficient centre of cancer treatment and is virtually a solace to poor patients of not only southern part of Assam but also of Dima Hasao district, the bordering areas of Manipur and Mizoram. Many patients from the referral hospital in Agartala are recommended for treatment here.

 Sincerity and dedication of a number of super specialists and paramedical as well as nursing staff have been widely appreciated. Patients of these areas do not have to go outside Assam for treatment in metropolitan cities of the country. The Director of Tata Cancer Institute of Mumbai and other cancer experts from India and abroad have recorded their deep appreciation for this centre of treatment. The institution run by the Cachar Cancer Hospital Society, formed and supported by some visiory social activists, has been involved in select cancer research works in collaboration with Indian and foreign institutions including Assam University.

It has also taken up a noble scheme to function as a teaching institution at advance level delivering courses on cancer treatment for the first time in north east region. CCHRC has a group excellent staff and fraterl support to function as faculty of the proposed courses with the approval of Medical Council of India and other regulatory bodies and for this a no objection certificate (NOC) from the state Government is awaited, besides fincial support. The Society applied for Tertiary Cancer Care Centre (TCCC) grant to the Union Government with the recommendations of the state government.

 It has been further pointed out by the Forum that presently this centre of treatment is faced with fund-crunch and accumulated debts for which immediate fincial assistance from the state and the Union Government is imperative. If all the fifteen MLAs from Barak Valley take up the issue on the floor of the Assembly and impress upon Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Health and Fince, and Sarbanda Sonowal, Chief Minister, about the immediate adequate fincial grant and other requirements. If the constraints and crunch are removed, CCHRC can continue to serve the poor patients who form the largest chunk of those admitted here for treatment.

 It is most unfortute, the Forum observes, that no MLA of this valley has taken up the pressing issue of this hospital and this has come as a surprise to the people. The 100 bed hospital has to sustain itself and continue on the strength of the dotions collected from all sections of people. The Forum has also pointed out that any dotion made to CCHRC ebles the donors to get exemption from paying income tax under section 80G of IT Act. The appeal was signed by Mihir Kar Purkayastha, chairman, Niharendu Purkayastha, vice-chairman, and Prof. Dilip Kumar Dey, secretary of Proactive Senior Citizens’ Forum.