Charitable hospital in Tarn Taran faces severe financial crunch

The Central Khalsa Hospital famously known as Vidayala Hospital, managed by the Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society, Amritsar, under its local committee, is one of the oldest hospitals in the district. This hospital is facing serious financial crunch to maintain its rich traditions to serve society with the present ultra-modern medical treatment.

The health institution was started in the year 1907 as a modest dispensary catering to the needs of outdoor patients (OPD) only. The dispensary provided satisfactory medical services with the association of local residents.

This dispensary with its present imposing dimension and best efforts of the donors of the area started health services as a 30-bed hospital in the year 1917. The foundation stone of the building was laid by Sant Sangat Singh of Kamalia. As the hospital was situated on the outskirts of the then small town of Tarn Taran, it was surrounded by lush green fields. In the year 1920, this health facility started working as a residential hospital. Well-qualified resident doctors and other staff attended to all categories of patients arriving at the hospital.

Around 1940, unique world famous medico Sardar Bahadur Dr Sohal Singh patronised the hospital by rendering free services as a visiting eye surgeon. Eye patients from for-flung areas came at the hospital for treatment where all health services, including boarding and lodging facilities, were provided free to them.

Patients underwent surgeries free of cost at the hospital. Services rendered by Dr Sohan Singh, including those through his active association with this hospital for so many years, prompted the British Government to honour him with the Sardar Bahadur (SB) title.

Later, SB Dr Sohan Singh was also honoured by the President of India. He continued to provide his services at the Vidayala Hospital for the next coming 25 years. His son Dr Ranbir Singh, who too was an eye specialist, offered free medical services at the same hospital till the year 1995. The operation theatre, open rooms and other facilities at the hospital bear testimony to rich traditions of the health institution. Late Dr Manohar Singh Gill, during his tenure as the Union Minister of State, released a grant of Rs 10 lakhs for the hospital.

Gurinder Singh Lohewala and Manjit Singh Dhillon, office-bearers of the Chief Khalsa Diwan local committee, said despite their best efforts, the hospital was not able to provide ultra-modern free medical facilities to patients due to paucity of funds. They said donation given by the committee to the hospital was negligible, while expenditure for running the health facility had gone up manifold. The general people of the area were of the view that the hospital, which had a heritage status, must be kept running at all costs by society.