Though the much-awaited IGH Super Specialty Hospital was officially inaugurated by the President of India on March 21, 2021, it is not yet functional here. That is why Rourkela’s young social activist Muktikanta Biswal decided to walk to Delhi from the steel city to knock the doors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ramnath Kovind to take appropriate steps for early functional of the hospital.
Briefing to journalists Biswal said during his election campaign visit to Rourkela in April 2014, Modi had promised for the establishment of IGH Suer Specialty Hospital and again on April 1, 2015 on his maiden visit to the city as Prime Minister he had promised for the upgradation of IGH to a Super Specialty Hospital. Though late but the construction work of the hospital building was completed and inaugurated by the President.
But due to non-functioning of the hospital most of the patients suffering from critical diseases like heart, liver, kidney, nuro etc. are either dying or shifting to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack for treatment as no treatment facilities are available here.
After one year of inauguration the hospital is confined to an OPD for two hours daily hardly. That is why activist Biswal will meet them with a request to interfere for early functioning of the hospital. This time Biswal has decided to trek all through shouldering a symbolic dead body.
It may be noted here that against the inordinate delay in starting the work of the hospital, Biswal had earlier trekked to Delhi in April, 2018 to met the Prime Minister. But there he could not meet him and the local MP Jual Oram had not been cooperative. Oram’s allegation that Biswal was sponsored by the Opposition had stoked a row as other political parties, intellectuals and social organisations decried the statements.
Even in many places in steel city the aggrieved youths burnt the effigy of Oram and sent blood to the Prime Minister.
After returning to Rourkela Biswal again trekked to Bhubaneswar to meet the Chief Minister requesting his intervention as CM was present in the stage with Prime Minister in Steel City on April 1, 2015.
After a lot of hue and cry, the hospital building works had started but without posting of doctors and para-medical staff the hospital was inaugurated by the President of India in a hurry