Announced by CMs, Kangra village PHC still not upgraded

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Box:

Virbhadra made announcement twice

In 2007, former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had announced the upgrade of the PHC

He again made the same announcement in 2016

In 2018, the then Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar announced the upgrade of this PHC

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also announced the PHC upgrade in February 2020

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Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 23

Residents of Tiara village in Kangra, led by zila parishad member Joginder Singh Panku, are protesting in support of their demand for the upgrade of the primary health centre (PHC) in their area to a community health centre (CHC). The villagers allege that the PHC has not being upgraded to a CHC despite announcements made by successive Chief Ministers and Health Ministers in the past more than a decade.

The villagers have adopted a unique method of protest. Besides organising a dharna, they are also organising prayers to God for the upgrade of the PHC. Panku says that in 2007, former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had announced the upgrade of the PHC. He again made the same announcement in 2016. In 2018, the then Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar announced the upgrade of this PHC. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also announced the upgrade of the PHC in February 2020. However, still the Tiara health centre had not been upgraded, he adds.

The protesters say that the PHC is not sufficient for their area, as there are no emergency services available there. The PHC has over 100 kanals that were donated by the family of former minister Vijai Singh Mankotia, says Panku.

He adds that the villagers say that as enough land is available with the PHC, it can be easily upgraded to provide better health facilities.