ZSUM, ZYF decry lack of docs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 14 2014: Urging the Chief Minister to take immediate step to provide doctors to Tamei and Tousem PHCs, the Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) has warned that it would launch a series democratic agitation if the authority concerned fails to redress the grievances of the public within a week's time from now.

In a memorandum to the CM, ZSUM pointed out that people of Tamei and Tousem areas of Tamenglong district have been facing acute problem due to absence of doctors at the health centres.

The Govt has remained a mute spectator to the suffering of the people due to non-availability of doctors at both the PHCs despite repeated reminders from the local bodies and student organisations, it said.

The ZSUM memo also cited several inconveniences faced by the people, like the death of two patients on their way to Imphal.

Seeking prompt remedial measures, the Zeliangrong student body warned that democratic forms of agitation would be launched unless the matter is looked into within a week's time.

Meanwhile, expressing deep concern over the alleged indifferent attitude of the State Govt towards the development of Tamenglong district, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN) today said, keeping the district under the administration of Manipur Govt may never let the people of the district see the light of the day, therefore, the only measure to bail out the people of the district would be to keep the district under direct administration of Central Govt for some specific year in some important sectors such as health care, education, road connectivity, communication etc in order to catch up with the rest of the State.

The State Govt's failure to device a mechanism to ensure appointment of doctors to PHSCs or PHCs of Tousem and Tamei Subdivisions has rendered the common people to suffer tremendously, said ZYF in a statement.

The plight of the people of Tamenglong district particularly Tousem and Tamei subdivisions and also other interior parts in different sub-divisions of the entire district has been completely neglected intentionally and deliberately in several sphere by the State Govt since the inception and attainment of Statehood.

Today even the doctor whose duty, obligation and responsibility to serve the people have failed to perform their undertaking.

The doctors avoiding their responsibility to serve human kind is contrary to their professional ethics.

This has happened due to the State Govt's weakness and acceptance of doctors' dereliction of duty and meddling of politics for favouritism.

There is also a reason for the doctors' reluctance to stay at their respective place of posting such as absence of vehicle or ambulance for PHSCs or PHCs, no appropriate or suitable quarters which are basic requirements, the ZYF said.

The State Govt should also prioritize and formulate a policy to provide incentives to doctors who are deputed to hills and far flung remote areas considering the hardships they are going to encounter.

The doctors are not evenly posted in the hills and valley areas, said the statement and added that in the valley there are many doctors in PHCs or PHSCs.

These doctors are only an addition to the already flooded doctors posted in reputed Govt hospitals, private hospitals, private health clinics etc.

On the other hand it is absurd that not a single doctor is willing to go and stay at their respective place of posting in the hill districts particularly Tamenglong.

This is because of the poor administration system of the State.

The root cause of backwardness and underdevelopment of all the subdivisions in Tamenglong district is due to complete failure in road connectivity which is vital for transportation and communication in the absence of railways, airways or water ways etc.

There is not a single viable road fit to call a road in the entire district except the short distance National Highway between Imphal-Longmai.

In such a condition how can there be development ?, it asked.

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