Dr PN Arora, managing director, Yashoda Hospital, is also involved in social work along with the health sector. Through his efforts every house in Village Masota of District Hapur has a toilet. To educate poor children in HRIT and other educational institutions, Arora has always been ready to play his role to help. He says that capable people get all the facilities and in contrast, those in need languish around. Hence, it is important that there is overall development.
What is the most important element to bridge the gap between the rich and poorIJ
For a society to have access to advanced education is the most essential factor. A society cannot progress without education. We started this two years ago when we adopted Masota village in Hapur. The school children used to sit on gunny bags during their classes and now, they sit on a chair and table to study. Their self-confidence is growing. Every month I visit the village and speak to the children so that they can move ahead after their education.
What are you doing about health in Masota villageIJ Have the villagers benefited from the work done by youIJ
We organise a health camp twice a month in the village and the priority is given to women and children. This has resulted in children and women being cured of minor ailments. People are becoming aware that along with education, it is essential to have good health and we are striving for this.
What are your views on the Swach-Bharat Abhiyan or Clean-India campaignIJ
I have been influenced by the Clean-India campaign, though we had already started the work some time back. There is no house in the village that does not have a toilet. A survey of the village, which has a population of 3,000, revealed that 85 houses did not have a toilet. Soon after which, we constructed a toilet in each of those households. This is part of the Clean-India campaign.
Ghaziabad is now 39-years-old. What changes and challenges do you seeIJ
It is a coincidence that the formation of Ghaziabad and my birthday fall on the same date — November 14. Two districts were formed out of Ghaziabad — Gautambudh Nagar and Hapur. Despite being of a lesser area, it has its own identity. The city is expanding, but the problems in the old city are not lessening. It is also faced with the issue of overflowing sewers. Though flyovers, underpasses and foot-over-bridges have been constructed, the traffic flow is still not smooth and needs to be improved.
Since Ghaziabad’s formation and your birthday fall on the same day, what special do you do that dayIJ
On my birthday, I visit leprosy and cancer patients in Ghaziabad and have food with them. We also offer treatment at affordable rates in our hospital. A branch of the Cancer Institute that treats children is in Noida Sector-24. I also visit the institute and spend some time with the children. These children are often taken to AIIMS for treatment, but there are long queues for checkups and investigations which also result in the deterioration of their condition. We do the necessary investigations at our hospital.
Ghaziabad has been included as a Smart City. What are your suggestionsIJ
It is heartening that Ghaziabad is to be developed as a Smart City. However, it should be kept in mind that the face of the old city needs to be changed. Without transformation of the old city, we cannot think of being a smart city. The amenities have to be upgraded. Sewer, water and electricity supply have to be improved.
When people have access to pure drinking water and electricity for 24 hours, only then we can call it a smart city. To achieve this we all have to work together. For any society to progress it first has to be educated.
The country cannot progress with an uneducated society.