Was unaware of norms: Conduit

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 5

Kuldeep Singh of Suffian village in Ajnala tehsil, who helped set up the eye camp at Gaggomahal village on November 4, feels guilty about the ugly turn of events.

“Being a social worker, I feel guilty. I never knew that things would take such an ugly turn. I had no knowledge about the mandatory norms to seek permission before holding health camps. Nor did I attempt to know about the background of the organisers of this eye surgery camp at Ghuman,” he said.

He said around 600 patients were examined at the camp. He further said 300 patients were discharged after being administered medicines at Gurudwara Amar Shaheed Baba Deep Singh.

“There were three patients of my village Suffian. Most of them were hale and hearty. All of them belonged to economically weaker section. There was one Jaswant Singh of Chaharpur who is a shepherd. His one eye was already damaged but now post-operation, he has lost most of his vision in the other eye. He is the only breadwinner of the family,” he said.

He said that at least 45 patients, majority of them females, were operated upon the same evening. They were from villages Gaggomahal, Chaharpur, Bedi Channa, Muthia and Dadiawal, falling under Ajnala tehsil. He said around 49 patients were recommended to undergo cataract surgery then.

Out of them, four had declined to undergo surgery. The rest were ferried the same day to Ghuman. He also said there were some who were operated upon successfully.