To draw the attention of the Government on vacancy of posts of doctors in the Government Hospital at Khariar town in Nuapada district, denizens of Khariar resorted to an indefinite strike on Tuesday under the banner of the Khadial Yuva Manch.
“Vacancy of doctors’ posts in the Government Hospital has severely impacted the health services. We had reported about this to the district Collector a week ago, but no step was taken. Hence, we have decided to go with our plan to close all Government offices at Khariar for an indefinite period,” said a leader of the Manch.
“The Government Hospital here caters to the medical needs of three blocks of Nuapada district and four blocks of Kalahandi and Balangir districts. On an average, 350 persons arrive here every day as outpatients while 50 undergo treatment as inpatients. But the Government doesn't consider filling up of the vacant posts of specialists,” lamented an agitator.
Members of various social and political organisations also took part in the protest. The protesters did not agree to the proposal of the district administration about deputing a medicine specialist from the District Headquarters Hospital for two days in a week. “This had been the strategy of the administration in the past, but that did not work as half of the time is wasted on travel,” a Manch leader said.
The agitators said that the strike would continue till the demand is fulfilled.