September 6th 2024.
The district of Keonjhar has been in the spotlight recently due to allegations of mismanagement of funds from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF). Despite these claims, nothing seems to have changed as 13 mobile medical units, which were purchased using DMF funds, have been sitting unused for over six months at the district headquarters hospital.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who represents Keonjhar Sadar in the Assembly, has previously expressed concerns about the misuse of DMF funds. As an opposition member, he had raised questions in the House multiple times about the officials' misuse of these funds. Unfortunately, it seems like the officials are still making their own decisions on how to spend the money, resulting in unused equipment and vehicles. This has caused frustration and dissatisfaction among the locals.
Residents of the district have also expressed their disappointment over the 13 mobile medical units, also known as ambulances, that have been lying idle. These ambulances were meant to serve the 13 blocks in the tribal-dominated district, but have not been used for over six months. A concerned social activist even reached out to the Chief Minister's grievance cell after reading about the issue in a local newspaper. The activist urged the Chief Minister's office to take immediate action and investigate whether the ambulances were purchased with the approval of the DMF trust board. They also demanded an explanation for why these vehicles have been sitting unused for so long and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
According to sources, even with the establishment of the Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital and the district headquarters hospital, the people living in tribal and hard-to-reach areas are still struggling to access proper healthcare. The long distances and lack of transportation have made it difficult for them to reach these hospitals, resulting in many people being unable to receive the free healthcare services provided by the government. This has led to critical conditions for patients, especially in areas like Banspal, Telkoi, Harichandanpur, and Joda, where diseases like cold, fever, and diarrhea are prevalent. It was for this reason that the DMF funds were used to purchase 13 mobile medical units, equipped with doctors and necessary supplies, to bring healthcare directly to the villagers.
However, these mobile units have been sitting unused at the district headquarters hospital for several months now. It was also brought to attention that the ambulances had the logo of Sundargarh DMF instead of Keonjhar DMF. After media coverage of this issue, the Sundargarh logo was removed and replaced with the correct one. When questioned about this matter, the chief district medical officer of Keonjhar, Kishore Chandra Prusty, stated that the ambulances would be put into use after a proper launching program. The district collector, Vishal Singh, also assured that he would look into the matter and take necessary actions.
It is evident that despite the efforts to improve healthcare services in Keonjhar, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed. The mismanagement of DMF funds and the lack of proper utilization of resources have resulted in the neglect of those in need. It is crucial for the authorities to take immediate action and ensure that the 13 mobile medical units are put to use as soon as possible, so the people living in remote areas can receive the healthcare they deserve.
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