 Ashwani Sharma
Early Times Report
Kathua, Mar 11: Believe it or not—a Primary Health Centre (PHC) is running with just two rooms for the last 30 years at a place which no less than the home village of J&K’s former Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nimal Singh.
Sources told Early Times that PHC at Karanwara Panchayat at Sabar in Basohli was made 30 years back in a two room complex with the land being donated by Dr. Singh then. In 2010 when Chaudhary Lal Singh was Health Minister a proposal was given for a new building and work on it started and continued till 2015 after which the work was stopped. Anyhow, the PHC continued its functioning in two rooms even till now.
Anil Chowdary—a doctor who is also a panchayat member informed that the PHC is carrying on its functioning in two rooms while about 6000 people from different Panchayats such as sabar, poonda, marda , Palti etc are dependent on it for their medical needs.
“Medical care of those dependants on this PHC has been badly affected due to its being in compact position,” he maintained adding that the PHC is unable to deliver its services properly. X-Ray Machine, ambulance and other things of the PHC are kept at CHC Basohli as there is no sufficient space in the PHC complex for that.
“The new building only lacked wooden work rest all was complete by 2015 but now with time it has undergone rot due to the apathy of authorities,” locals said. The concerned CMO when contacted said that the accommodation shortage is there at the PHC but the new building was never handed over to them. |
