By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has called for a three-night road blockade from June 26 till 28 with effect from 7pm till 5am as a mark of protest against the adamant attitude of the State government in addressing the demands put forth by the union especially health-related problems in Jaintia Hills.
According to the president of JSU RN Parien, the union had apprised the government on many intervals through memorandums to the Health Minister, the Chief Minister and the authority concerned since 2002 on the need to initiate a Blood Bank at Jowai Civil Hospital but till date nothing was done in this stead.
Parien said that the union had not brought this matter to the notice of the government only through submission of memorandum but also through meetings with the authorities’ right from the level of the Commissioner Secretary, Health Minister till the Chief Minister of which assurance to fulfil these demands were given.
According to the JSU, in September 2011, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma inspected the Civil Hospital Jowai and also directed hospital superintendent to examine the matter and to send a report to the government.
“However, even this never materialized as till date, the government has not able to do anything on the report sent by the hospital authorities,” Purien said.
The JSU leader said that from time to time, people have been complaining of the difficulties of the unavailability of a blood bank in a government hospital and the congestion on the Jowai Civil Hospital is also another big problem where it was noticed that there are only 100 beds and patients even had to sleep outside and in the veranda.
The JSU also questioned the delay of the government in the functioning of the civil hospital at Ialong, a building which was already constructed since 2010 but till date, the building has turned into nothing but a big useless space.
In this regard, the union has issued a 30-day deadline to the State government to address the problems pointed by the union-blood bank at Jowai Civil Hospital, upgradation of Jowai Civil Hospital and immediate functioning of the Civil Hospital at Ialong.
