Sundargarh Bandh called on Nov 30
Following the announcement of Union Minister of State for labour K Suresh on November 19 last that the proposed ESIC medical college and super specialist hospital would be set up in Bhubaneswar and not at Rourkela, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for ESIC Medical College opposing the decision and held a demonstration at Bisra Chowk on Monday.
It was represented by different political parties, trade unions, social and cultural organisations, besides the common people. JAC convener and senior advocate Muralidhar Parija led the stir. Parija pointed out that Rourkela and its peripheries alone account for about 1.5 lakh insurred persons (IPs) as against the total number of IPs of 3 lakh in the State. Despite this, the Government has decided to set up the medical college and hospital in Bhubaneswar which is unfortunate, he rued.
CITU national vice president Bishnu Mohanty said at no cost will his union tolerate the anti-working class attitude of the Union and the State Governments. Criticising the stands of both the Governments, he said they are playing double standards in regard to the ESIC hospital and college. He also warned of intensifying the agitation if the genuine demand of the Steel City is cold shouldered.
Rourkela Bar association president Ramesh Bal said, “We have no problem if an ESIC medical college is established in Bhubaneswar or somewhere else of the State, but Rourkela must get the first preference for the medical as it fulfills all conditions.”
BJP District Committee president Dhiren Senapati, criticising the unilateral declaration of the Minister, said his party always advocated for the medical college and hospital to be established at Rourkela. “We still stick to our stand and if required, we will resort to an agitation,” he said. Former MlA Pravat Mohapatra said there are examples where more than one ESIC medical colleges are in a State. So, two ESIC medical colleges can be set up in Odisha, he said.
Among others, former State Women Commission Chairperson lopamudra Mohanty, Manoj Rautia of KKD, senior journalist Manoranjan Dash, Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Mahes Vajir, Rourkela DCC president BM Pattanaik and many more expressed their discontent over the decision to set up the medical college at Bhubaneswar.
It was unanimously decided to call a Sundargarh Bandh on November 30. Interestingly, no BJD leaders were present in the meeting.