Politicians drag feet over Covid help

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, May 2

The politicians, who had offered their properties for setting up Covid centres in Kangra district, are now in a catch-22 situation and “looking for ways to wriggle out of it”.

In the last week of April, former minister and AICC secretary Sudhir Sharma wrote a letter to the DC, stating that he was ready to set up a Covid hospital in his house in Dharamsala. He promised to arrange oxygen beds to help the district administration in fighting Covid.

Another senior Congress leader GS Bali stated that if Sudhir’s house was converted into a Covid centre, he would provide beds and the health staff from his hospital in Kangra.

Minister for Forests and Youth Affairs Rakesh Pathania also offered his nursing college in Nurpur for Covid patients.

On April 27, the Kangra DC accepted their offers and asked them to provide the details of beds equipped with oxygen cylinders, medical staff and other facilities that they would provide. The leaders were asked to provide the details by May 1.

According to information gathered by The Tribune, no leaders have provided the facilities in their properties. All of them have their own reasons for delay in providing the promised services.

Sudhir said when the district administration and the government could not get doctors and nurses to work in government Covid hospitals, how could he arrange them.

“I have instead written to the district administration to set up an isolation centre at my residence. I will soon set up 40 beds to keep asymptomatic patients in my house. I will also arrange some oxygen cylinders and an ambulance. The patients will also be provided food and other facilities,” he said. He said, “I will soon launch a helpline to provide food to those isolated in their houses.

Rakesh Pathania said he would soon respond to the letter of the DC. His nursing college was lying vacant and the administration was free to use it.

“I have sent 25 nurses to serve in Covid hospitals,” he said. Sources in the Health Department, however, said just five nurses sent by Pathania had reported at Covid hospital in Dharamsala.

Bali said a 40-bed facility would be handed over to the administration from May 8. He said creating proper facilities for patients was a time-consuming process. He would also provide three ventilator-equipped beds to the district administration.

Fail to meet May 1 deadline

• The DC accepted their offers and asked them to provide the details of beds equipped with oxygen cylinders, medical staff and other facilities that they would provide in their facilities by May 1.
• No leaders have provided the facilities in their properties. All of them have their own reasons for delay in providing the promised services.

What they said

• Sudhir Sharma had written a letter to the DC, stating that he was ready to set up a Covid hospital in his house in Dharamsala. He promised to arrange oxygen beds to help the district administration in fighting Covid
• GS Bali took to social media and stated that if Sudhir’s house was converted into Covid centre, he would provide beds and health staff from his hospital in Kangra
• Rakesh Pathania also offered his nursing college in Nurpur for Covid patients