Nishar Mohammed
Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 19: The Pradhan of Humfrygunj Gram Panchayat, Mr. Palani Kumar, has warned of a protest by local residents if a lab assistant is not immediately provided at the Manglutan Primary Health Centre (PHC), where patients from Manglutan and four surrounding panchayats are facing serious difficulties in getting blood tests conducted.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Kumar said the lab assistant posted at the Manglutan PHC retired on June 30, but no alternative arrangement was made for nearly one to two weeks. Subsequently, the panchayat wrote to the concerned authorities seeking the appointment of a new lab assistant. Later, a lab assistant from Chouldari was reportedly asked to visit Manglutan twice a week on a temporary basis to conduct blood tests.
According to Kumar, even this temporary arrangement has not been functioning regularly. He said that on Wednesday morning at around 7.30 a.m., a local resident, Prem from Wandoor, informed him over the phone that the lab assistant had not been visiting Manglutan for the past three days. Following the information, Mr. Kumar visited the health centre, assessed the situation and interacted with local residents.
He said the Manglutan PHC caters to a population of around 13,000 and serves people from four panchayats who depend on the centre for treatment and diagnostic services. Patients suffering from diabetes, in particular, require regular blood tests. The problem is more difficult for residents coming from remote areas such as Wandoor, as inadequate morning bus services often force them to hire autos to reach the health centre.
Mr. Kumar said he also met the doctor at the health centre, who informed him that a letter had already been sent to the concerned authorities seeking an alternative arrangement before the retirement of the existing lab assistant.
The Pradhan further said he had learnt that a lab assistant from Kalighat Hospital, Diglipur, was transferred to Manglutan on August 10. However, the employee has reportedly not yet been relieved from the existing place of posting. Mr. Kumar said that if the concerned employee is relieved immediately and sent to Manglutan, the difficulties being faced by patients could be resolved.
Mr. Kumar said he had assured local residents that he would take up the matter with the concerned authorities and make efforts to ensure that a lab assistant is made available for blood testing from the following day. He warned that if the arrangement is not made, local residents will stage a dharna and protest. He added that a letter regarding the proposed protest had already been submitted to the police station.
During the interaction, Mr. Kumar also raised concerns over the e-KYC and biometric verification process for LPG consumers. He said an e-KYC camp had earlier been organised at the panchayat level, where the process was completed for several consumers. Despite this, consumers are subsequently being asked to undergo biometric verification again, causing particular inconvenience to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
He said several consumers who had already completed e-KYC through the panchayat were later approaching the authorities with complaints that they were still unable to receive LPG cylinders. Mr. Kumar urged the concerned department to simplify the verification process and ensure that consumers are not repeatedly required to complete different formalities. He said the system should be designed to provide convenience to the public rather than increase their difficulties by repeatedly asking them to undergo the same process.
