Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said that a proposal would be chalked out to construct a rest room, with a library facility, for the attendants of inpatient in all the district hospitals of the State.

Speaking after inaugurating the distribution of free meals to the attendants of in-patients, by Snehalaya Palana Samithi, at Wenlock Hospital on Friday, he said that the attendants had to wait outside the hospital during daytime.

Normally, hospitals provide free food to patients and not the relatives who stay with them. “Often we see patients sharing a part of their food, provided by the hospital authorities, with the relatives,” he said.

 “We will also hold discussion with hotel owners’ association in every district, if they could sponsor food to the attendants. The NGO should supply meals for minimum one year and later their term will be renewed,” the minister added.

The health department will recruit 1,000 ‘C’ and ‘D’ group employees shortly.

If NGOs come forward to supply free meals to the attendants, then the government will extend the facilities in all the district hospitals in the State. The supply of free meals to the attendants is a service to the society. It is a true patriotic fervour. Those who have been engaged in dividing the society should visit government hospitals and extend their helping hand, Khader said.

He called upon the community members to develop a sense of commitment to the society through selfless service.

District Surgeon Dr Rajeshwari Devi said that a food shelter had been kept ready in the Wenlock Hospital premises to serve food to the attendants. Earlier, the attendants were washing their clothes in the bathrooms. Now, a separate counter has been made for the purpose.

The Wenlock Hospital is one of six hospitals identified under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) for paediatric surgery in Karnataka. Around 330 surgical procedures are conducted under the RBSK.

Snehalaya Trust Managing Trustee Joseph Crasta said the Trust would supply food to the attendants of 700 patients in the hospital. Sulthan Gold and Diamonds and MLA J R Lobo have given one vehicle each worth Rs six lakh to supply food to the hospital.

As much as Rs 7,000 is required per day to supply food. The public can also donate towards the supply of a day’s food.

The Trust already supplies food to 180 persons at General Hospital in Kasargod. A total of 80 donors have already agreed to donate money to the Trust. The food consists of rice and saaru, he added.