The 15th State Foundation Day was observed in district headquarters Pauri as Virodh Diwas (Protest Day) by people under the banner of Jan Chetana Manch supported by Nagrik Sangharsh Samiti and other organisation on Sunday.
The protesters staged a rally in town, carrying black flags and later demonstrated in support of the demand for appointment of doctors to the vacant posts in district hospital and District women’s hospital at Pauri and other issues. The protesters raised slogans against the Chief Minister, Health Minister and Pauri MlA for their ‘indifferent’ attitude towards Pauri’s development and redressal of problems faced by the citizens here.
Many were of the view that the Vidhan Sabha should be dissolved and Uttarakhand should be made a Union Territory. “The Uttarakhand State appears to have been created for the benefit of politicians and bureaucrats as they are enjoying various benefits even after retirement in most cases. The State Government appears to be unconcerned about the problems being faced in the regional headquarter Pauri which has been facing neglect since State formation,” said the protesters.
They pointed out that with the State remaining apathetic to local requirements like the need for doctors and other facilities in Pauri, the residents of Pauri and adjoining areas are forced to go to other places for medical treatment which increases the financial burden on the common man. The Jan Chetana Manch convener Dalbir Singh Negi stressed that despite the protest rally, market close, the Government has apathetic towards the genuine demands of the public, while on the other side State Government claims to be committed towards better medical facilities and service to the common people in the State.
On November 5, Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat and Pauri MlA Sunder lal Mandrawal had visited the protest site and had asked the agitators to withdraw their protest while assuring them that six to seven doctors would be sent to district hospital at Pauri in a couple of days.