Resolve shortage of doctors in PHCs, says TP president

Taluk panchayat president B M Ramaswamy directed the officials of the taluk Health department to solve the issue of absenteeism of doctors in primary health centres of the taluk.

Speaking at the progress review meeting held at the taluk panchayat recently, he said, “Doctors are not visiting the primary health centres in places like Nandi, Nayanahalli, among others. The patients are being severely inconvenienced. Hence, the villages should be given priority and doctors should eb first sent there.” Doctors should conduct health camps in gram panchayats every fortnight and raise awareness among the public about health issues.

“Stagnant water in drains is the breeding ground for mosquitoes that spread various diseases. Hence, the gram panchayat should get pesticides sprayed on drains,” he instructed.

He later instructed officials of the Sericulture department to ensure that the facilities meant for the sericulturists are not given to others. Among the beneficiaries, the poor should be given first preference. The taluk panchayat members should be given the list of beneficiaries, who should be sincerely identified, he added.

Ramaswamy asked the block education officer to submit a list of schools in which there are leaking classrooms. “In primary schools with very few students, teachers should take special care and respond to the students well. Steps should be taken to resolve the lack of teachers in government schools,” he said.

“There are complaints that the food served in hostels is of poor quality. Food items of poor quality should not be served to students, but sent back. Authorities must pay attention to the quality and quantity of food items supplied to hostels,” Ramaswamy told Chandrappa, the assistant director of the Akshara Dasoha scheme.

When the official from the backward classes department shared the data on hostels, Ramaswamy took him to task and asked him why representatives of the taluk panchayat had not been included in the hostel inspection committee.

“Cleanliness has not been maintained in most hostels. There are complaints that the students’ attendance is not being taken properly. Steps should be taken at the earliest to ensure cleanliness in all hostels and the attendance should be recorded using biometric equipment,” he directed the official. The president instructed officials of the Veterinary department to raise awareness among farmers on bovine insurance. Cattle should be vaccinated and fodder seeds should be distributed to farmers properly. Camps should be conducted at the hobli-level and pregnant cows should be given proper treatment, he directed.

He also directed the officials from the Social Forestry department to ensure that saplings planted by the roadside are properly cared for. In places where there is deficient rainfall, the sapling should be watered, he added.