Tourism Minister least bothered about his backyard hospital

Anantnag: At a distance of not more than half Kilometer from the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minsiter, Ghulam Ahmad Mir in Verinag area of South Kashmir, The primary health Center in the township continues to remain without key facilities since from Last 62 years.

Local residents including the neighbors of Tourism Minister, who also represents the constituency in assembly, angered by the non-seriousness of Ghulam Ahmad Mir, in projecting and mitigating the genuine problems of the Primary health Center forced them to come out on roads and held a protest demonstration against the authorities.

Reports said that hundreds of residents of Verinag today assembled in front of the Primary Health Center and raised high pitched slogans against the authorities for not upgrading the center and for not providing the basic facilities to the center.

Residents said that since last 62 years state government hadn’t upgraded the health center besides they know, it caters over hundred villages of Verinag as well as other far-flung areas including Ramban and Banihal. They alleged that concern MLA’s non seriousness has forced them to held protest demonstration against the department.

Locals said hospital besides being under staff continues remains without basic facilities like X-ray and USG.

“This six bedded primary health center has building with more than 50 rooms but irony is that out of 5 doctors posted here only four are working while as one post is vacant as per the authorities.” said local awqaf president, Master Ghulam Ahmad Bhat.

He said that health center also continue to function without X-ray and USG technicians, which a many times puts lives patients at risk.

“Since past from years we have conveyed our grievance to our local MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir and I myself have written him and conveyed him through Awaqaf letter head but he has never projected ours this issue which needs immediate resolve.” He said, adding it is his non-seriousness which forced us to held protest demonstration against the state government and health department authorities.

He said that they will continue to protest till government resolves this issue

“We will continue our protest till our demand is fulfilled if they failed we will block Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.” He threatened.

Meanwhile Chief Medical Officer visited the primary health Center at verinag, however he couldn’t assured the public.

Repeated attempts failed to contact state Tourism Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Mir.