Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Aug 24: Labourers of cashew nut factories and building construction industries, along with villagers took procession and held protest in front of Siddapur primary health centre urging the same to be upgraded.

Addressing the protesters CITU district chief secretary Suresh Kallagara said, “The government has neglected the basic health service of the people of Siddapura. Though hundreds of patients arrive at the centre from nearby villages, doctor is available only on few days of the week. The centre gets closed at 4.30 pm. Emergency treatment is not available during night time. People are made to travel Kundapur, which is at a distance of 30 km.

“Laboratory, mortuary, beds, washrooms and building is available on the spacious four acre land. However, personnel are not recruited. There is no facility of freezer to keep dead bodies. The government should immediately upgrade the Siddapur primary health care centre and do justice to the people of the locality. Otherwise, severe protest will be held in coming days,” he said.

Taluk convener Chandrashekhar V, honorary president of construction labourers’ union Chikka Mogaveera also spoke on the occasion.

CITU district leaders Mahabala Vaderahobali, Girija Achar of workers’ union, Girija Shedthi, Sharada, Venkatesh Hosangadi, Ratnakara Siddapura, Vittala, Krishna Poojary, Jyoti, and Chandrakulal Moodbage were present.

P T Alexander of construction labourers’ association of Siddapur welcomed the gathering. Raghavendra Acharya, president of the association rendered vote of thanks.

The demands included day and night service, availability of doctor on all days of week, freezer facility to keep dead bodies and recruitment of personnel to handle mortuary, bed and laboratory.

The appeal was submitted to Shantappa of health centre to be sent to the government. Shankaranarayana police provided security.