Taking note of PUYA’s campaign Pathetic healthcare centres
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It should say something significant that a voluntary organisation like the People’s United Youth Alliance (PUYA) has felt the need to go around and inspect the health centres set up across the State and one wonders whether the Government has taken note of the findings which have been carried in all the Imphal based newspapers. Not the first time The Sangai Express is commenting on this and it wouldn’t be the last either, for here is a case of the Government miserably failing to do what is expected of them. In the last many days, PUYA in association with Foothills Naga Co-ordinating Committee (FNCC), has been going around on an inspection drive and from finding health workers appending their signatures on the attendance register even up to the 31st day of February, the voluntary organisation has come across understaffed health centres, leaking roofs, shortage of medical supplies and even bandage ! Basic necessities, this is what people expect from the Government, but the reality says something else. Or will this also be reduced to another exercise of pointing fingers at the previous Government ? At the moment, the focus of the Government must obviously be on the conflict situation in the State, but yet at the same time, it cannot afford to turn a blind eye to what has been unearthed by PUYA in the last many days, for it concerns a basic necessity of mankind-healthcare. Manipur and obviously PUYA and FNCC would not expect top of the class treatment facilities at any of the health centres set up in different districts of the State, but would certainly expect something as fundamental as doctors on duty and something as plain as cotton and bandage at these centres. The findings however tell a different story and this is where one is left wondering why this had not come to the notice of the Government earlier. It is this indifference that is loathsome. Take the findings of PUYA seriously and accordingly take up needed course of action, for what one is talking about here is the health of the rural and hill people. At the moment, the focus of PUYA is rightfully on the health sector but take a look around and if any inspection drive is conducted at any of the other Government Departments, it would most certainly run a similar line. What about water supply ? Forget about the rural and hill areas, but take a look at what is happening in the capital city of Imphal into consideration and if situation is like this in the capital of the State, one can imagine how situation must be like in the rural areas as well as in the hill districts. Why doesn’t anything seem to work ? A question which only the Government can answer, but it should be raised, again and again, until something concrete is done. Manipur receives a healthy amount of rainfall in a year, yet it is a place where running water is unheard of in many households even in Imphal.
Just some time before the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP in its election manifesto promised running water in all the households, and nearly ten years down the line there is nothing to suggest that anything towards this has been taken up. A white lie peddled to the people so that the election manifesto looks good ? And the saffron party has been in power since 2017. If one goes by the election calendar, then Manipur will go to polls in the early part of 2027. Now what promises or statements would the saffron party whip up to sell to the people to blur the reality ? The findings of PUYA is something which should be brought before the notice of the Government and every candidate who intends to contest the election must be asked on how they intend to go about making the health sector more complete. As noted, no one expects high end medical treatment at the public health centres in the rural areas, but the basics, basics such as cotton and bandage and obviously doctors and nurses on duty. One hopes PUYA continues with its campaign and lines up other sectors such as power supply and water supply on its list in the near future. Manipur does not need high sounding promises but taking good care of the fundamentals of life. And obviously healthcare, regular water supply and regular power supply come under this category. Motorable road too is what is expected from the Government.
Just some time before the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP in its election manifesto promised running water in all the households, and nearly ten years down the line there is nothing to suggest that anything towards this has been taken up. A white lie peddled to the people so that the election manifesto looks good ? And the saffron party has been in power since 2017. If one goes by the election calendar, then Manipur will go to polls in the early part of 2027. Now what promises or statements would the saffron party whip up to sell to the people to blur the reality ? The findings of PUYA is something which should be brought before the notice of the Government and every candidate who intends to contest the election must be asked on how they intend to go about making the health sector more complete. As noted, no one expects high end medical treatment at the public health centres in the rural areas, but the basics, basics such as cotton and bandage and obviously doctors and nurses on duty. One hopes PUYA continues with its campaign and lines up other sectors such as power supply and water supply on its list in the near future. Manipur does not need high sounding promises but taking good care of the fundamentals of life. And obviously healthcare, regular water supply and regular power supply come under this category. Motorable road too is what is expected from the Government.