Govt move on privatisation in health, education flayed

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 13

Members of various organisations under the banner of the Committee against Privatisation of Essential Services staged a demonstration against the government move to push privatisation in the health and education sectors here on Wednesday. Before the demonstration, they held a convention at Teacher’s Home.

Dr Ajit Pal Singh, press secretary of the Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), said the committee had been constituted by representatives of trade unions and public organisations to counter the government move on privatisation of essential services. He said it had been formed on the initiative of the local unit of the AFDR.

Representatives of organisations who participated in the convention were Gagandeep Singh from Coordination Committee of Health Employees, Suranjana Rani from ASHA Facilitator Union, Shingara Singh Maan from Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (Ugrahan), Chand Singh from Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakonda), Amarjit Honey from Kirti Kisan Union, Sewak Singh from Punjab Khet Majdoor Union, Simerjit Kaur from Punjab Students Union, Ashwani Ghuda from Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Bhura Singh from Taraksheel Society, Mukhtiar Kaur from Aurat Mukti Manch and Ranjit Singh from Pensioners’ Association.

During the convention, the representatives, including AFDR general secretary Pritpal Singh and press secretary Dr Ajit Pal, said by privatising the health and education sectors, the Punjab Government was not only depriving the people of their rights to lead a healthy and respectful life, but also washing its hands off Constitutional duty to provide good health and education services.

They said the institutions, which were being handed over to private players to earn profit, were not the property of any individual, but had been built from the tax payers’ money.

The representatives said the government had not only failed in its Constitutional duty, but was also playing into the hands of private players. They demanded to roll back the PPP model and an increase in the health and education budget to meet the growing needs of the ailing people.

During the convention, a resolution to condemn the lathicharge on the peacefully demonstrating teachers for their genuine demands in Patiala was passed.

The representatives appealed to the public to protest the state government move of privatising essential services.

Up in arms against state govt

• During the convention, the representatives, including Association for Democratic Rights general secretary Pritpal Singh and press secretary Dr Ajit Pal, said by privatising the health and education sectors, the Punjab Government was not only depriving the people of their right to lead a healthy and respectful life, but also washing its hands off its Constitutional duty to provide good health and education services.
• They said the institutions, which were being handed over to private players to earn profit, were not the property of any individual, but had been built from the tax payers’ money.