Janta Nagar residents protest against shifting of Ayurvedic dispensary

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 19

Residents of Janta Nagar on Wednesday staged a protest and raised slogans against the state government over the decision of shifting the Ayurvedic dispensary from their area to Lal Singh Basti. Scores of residents gathered outside the dispensary and voiced their concern about the shifting the Ayurvedic dispensary from their area and then converting it into a ‘dharamshala’.

In Janta Nagar, a large number of people live in slum areas and vehras (clusters of small houses with dinghy rooms) and scores of residents of the area avail medical services at the Ayurvedic dispensary and the Urban Primary Health Centre run by the Health Department. Residents’ contention is that with shifting of the dispensary, they would be deprived of medical services or treatment which was easily accessible for them. The residents rued that with the shifting of dispensary they would have to travel a long distance to avail medical services.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Department of Health and Family Welfare has directed to shift the Ayurvedic dispensary from Janta Nagar area to Lal Singh Basti. According to residents of the area, the dispensary was providing them medical facilities for the past 25 years and if it was shifted, they would be adversely affected by the same.

Dr Sanjeev Pathak, Ayurvedic Medical Officer, confirmed that orders had been issued from the head office to shift the Ayurvedic dispensary from Janta Nagar. The residents on the other hand said they would take all possible measures and intensify their protest against the move in the coming days.

Sources said the decision of shifting the dispensary was politically motivated and some local leaders were calling the shots in the matter.