Activist Muktikanta Biswal will now start a hunger- strike from October 2 to put pressure on both the Union and State Governments for early upgradation of the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) to a medical college as assured by the Prime Minister four years back at a public meeting at Rourkela.
Notably, the activist had trekked more than 1,350 km in 71 days to reach New Delhi from the steel city to meet and remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his promises about the project for Rourkela but was not allowed to meet the PM. Later, he walked to Bhubaneswar to meet the Chief Minister and during meeting the CM had assured him for all sorts of cooperation for establishment of the IGH Medical College. But the CM’s assurance remained an assurance only.
Rather from information provided through RTI by SAIL, RSP, it is revealed that there is no proposal for IGH Medical College so far.
It may be noted that since last many months, there is a growing demand for upgradation of the IGH into a medical college.
RTI activist of Balangir, Hemant Panda had sought the information through RTI from SAIL and MCI and the information provided to him clearly reveals that neither the MCI nor the SAIL has any proposal in this regard.
Both Biswal and Panda told reporters here that over last four years the leaders are blowing hot and cold over the project.
Interestingly, a month ago, the NBCC had floated an advertisement for the IGH super specialty hospital of Rs 250 crore where as on September 22, the PM declared in Jharsguda that Rs 517 crore for IGH super specialty hospital has been given.
Given the mismatch, it is sure that super specialty hospital is a paradox, said Biswal adding that with Juba Jagruti Manch convenor Gopal Jena, he will sit in an indefinite hunger strike from Gandhi Jayanti.