Phoolka, govt join hands to start mobile dispensaries

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 27

An AAP MLA and the Health and Family Welfare Department have joined hands to start a mobile dispensary project, with focus on drug de-addiction, for every 10 villages in the state.

Dakha MLA HS Phoolka told The Tribune that he was starting the project in his constituency soon. “Health Minister Brahm Mohindra and I have teamed up for providing health facilities at the doorstep of villagers. The mobile dispensary will give free medicines and help in drug de-addiction twice a week in each village,” he said.

Dr Arun Thapar, brother-in-law of Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, has agreed to supervise the project, Phoolka said.

Dr SS Sibia from Ludhiana is also part of the team.

Brahm Mohindra said he and his party were all for constructive work. “I have assured my ministry’s help to the project. It is a collective work. Keeping aside political considerations, anyone who wants to help is welcome,” he said.

The role of the Opposition, Phoolka said, was not confined to criticising the government. “It is also to help the government in whatever it can. That is constructive Opposition. To achieve this, I had consultations with the Health Minister, who agreed to my project.”

He insisted there was no politics behind the move.

“About 80 per cent of Punjab villages do not have a dispensary. The project will start from my constituency under the aegis of the Gyan Sewa Trust. It was started by me and my friends, including Avtar Singh Dhindsa. It is already educating village children and running a campaign against drugs,” Phoolka said, adding that later, the project would be extended across the state with the help of legislators.

The former Leader of the Opposition has written to Speaker Rana KP Singh to form an all-party committee to generate funds for villagers’ education and healthcare. Phoolka wrote that in view of the fund crunch, there was a need to persuade NRIs, corporates and philanthropists to give funds to improve the education and healthcare system.