PATACHARKUCHI, May 18 - The office of the Sub-Divisional Medical & Health Officer here lies in a dilapidated state. The local people of the area rue the fact that the authorities concerned have failed to pay any heed to the matter since the last 23 years.
Due to the ramshackle condition of the office, the SDM&HO is forced to officiate from the verandah of the building.
Though the people of Patacharkuchi have been demanding the renovation of the office situated in the old hospital building, the authorities concerned have allegedly failed to improve its infrastructure.
There is resentment among the public and local organisations as the higher authorities and public representatives have not allegedly done anything to improve the condition of the office.
The all-important office was opened in the old building of the Patacharkuchi MPHC when the MPHC was shifted to the new campus at Bezkuchi during the term of the then Chief Minister, Hiteswar Saikia, in 1992. At that time, the Chief Medical and Health Officer of Barpeta district had directed the then SDM&HO to make arrangements for the smooth running of the office and accordingly, he wrote to the higher authorities to provide adequate staff, improve the infrastructure, supply power and telephone connections, and construct and repair the office. But nothing was done.
The Joint Director of Health Services of Barpeta district also reported the matter to the Director of Health Services. At present, the office � considered one of the important offices in Bajali subdivision � is running with an SDM&HO, a health assistant and a Grade IV employee. Two of these employees, excluding the SDM&HO, are on deputation.
The signboard of the office is kept inside the office and during office hours, it is kept outside for display. The walls of the office building are in a poor shape. The office compound comprises four bighas of land and as there is no boundary wall, cattle graze freely on the office grounds.
At a time when the Government of Assam is implementing several schemes to improve health services in the State, opening medical colleges and constructing new buildings, the office of the SDM&HO here has been neglected for reasons best known to the authorities concerned.
Last year, a public petition was forwarded to Health Minister Dr Nazrul Islam, but no positive result has come out till date.
