Student organisations in Tamenglong district of Manipur have jointly called for an indefinite bandh on Imphal-Jiribam road along the National Highway-37 and national project from the midnight of November 29.
The indefinite bandh has been called as the 10-day ultimatum set by the student bodies for the government to fulfil their demand for specialist doctors to be posted in Tamenglong district hospital ended on Thursday.
"As the ultimatum set for 10 days has expired, the joint students' body is compelled to call an indefinite bandh of the National Project and National Highway-37 from the midnight of November 29 in a democratic form as an agitation against the government's failure to comply with the demand which is in the larger interest of the public," stated a joint statement issued by the student bodies.
The statement was signed by Rongmei Naga Students' Organization Manipur (RNSOM) general secretary Jeanthui Panmei, All Inpui Students' Union (AISU) general secretary Muliang Riamroi, Zeme Students Organization Manipur (ZSOM) president Heizerangbe Paul and Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi (LNKR) general secretary Masanbou Thuimai.
However, medical, emergencies, PHED, electricity department and security forces are exempted from the bandh.
"The bandh is relaxed for medical emergencies, PHED, electricity department, and the security forces. We the joint student's body appeal to the general public and like-minded civil organization to cooperate and support us until the demand is fulfilled," the statement added.
The student bodies said in the joint statement that several appeals were made to the state government, wherein the Joint students' body had highlighted the acute shortage of specialist doctors, X-Ray and ultrasound facility, lab technician and other manpower resources in Tamenglong district hospital. The need for specialist doctors included medicine specialist, paediatrician, ophthalmologist, orthopaedic surgeon, general surgeon, radiologist and psychiatrist among others.
The joint students' body had set 10 days’ time for the government to facilitate all the above mentioned required healthcare facility in the district. They also demanded setting up of a blood bank and a dialysis unit taking into consideration the grave need of the facility in the district.
They said the joint body had also submitted a memorandum to the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Manipur on November 23, 2020. They said that Tamenglong district hospital at Duigailong lacks in every aspect of medical facilities to be a district hospital.
ALSO READ
Joint students’ body set 10 days’ time for posting of specialist doctors in Tamenglong
12 patients died due to lack of specialist doctors in Tamenglong
