PM to dedicate Bahubali hospital on Monday

The Bahubali Hospital, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, is among the various social welfare programmes undertaken by the Jain Mutt here.

The money collected from the auction of 'kalashas' during Mahamastakabhisheka is used for renovation of Jain basadis, educational, literary and social welfare activities.

Ashok Patni, a devotee from Rajasthan, had purchased the first kalasha for Rs 1.08 crore during the 2006 Mahamastakabhisheka. The amount was used for the construction of a children's hospital. Now, a general hospital has been constructed at a cost of Rs three crore, donated by Inox Group CSR Trust and Sidho Mall Charitable Trust, New Delhi.

It is a 50-bed, two-storey hospital, comprising laboratory, x-ray room, operation theatres, labour ward, eye, dental and paediatric departments. Ten specialists including a cardiologist, anaesthesiologist and paediatrician will serve at the hospital. Two ambulances have been purchased and four housing quarters for the staff have been constructed.

The hospital caters to patients around Shravanabelagola hobli and also Turuvekere, Channarayapatna, Hirisave, Nagamangala and KR Pet taluks. Donors from Bengaluru, Mandya, Hubballi and Indore have been extending support by supplying the medicines required.

Speaking to DH, Dr Parshwanath said the money collected through auction during 2006 had been utilised for healthcare. There are also plans to open a Dharmashala, he said. As part of the Mastakabhisheka, 17 health camps were conducted and there was free distribution of artificial limbs, tests conducted for diabetes, blood pressure and others.

Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami of the Jain Mutt said the existing hospital will be upgraded to a 200-bed hospital utilising the auction money of the 2018 Mastakabhisheka. Ashok Patni, who has purchased the prestigious kalasha this year also, has assured to extend financial help if necessary, he said.