LUDHIANA: Coming to the rescue of inmates of Ludhiana central
jail who are battling several
health hazards and lack of facilities, Congress MLA Sanjay Talwar and his team have decided to pool in funds and provide facilities.
The jail on the Tajpur road lacks medical facilities, ambulance, doctors and LED lights. Importantly, pollution caused by the dyeing industries on road has led to eye, skin and respiratory ailments among inmates.
Jail superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai has written to the authorities several times to provide solutions, but to no avail.
But now the MLA-East Sanjay Talwar and his team, including some area councillors, have decided to raise funds of Rs 20,000 per month to supply require medicines for jail inmates. Besides, they will also provide 40 LED lights, one ambulance and arrange for doctors at the jail.
The hospital in central jail doesn’t have sterilization equipment due to which the hospital is forced to refer inmates to the civil hospital even for minor injuries. Moreover, the hospital does not have ENT, ortho and skin specialists.
Earlier specialized doctors from the civil hospital used to visit the jail, but no doctor has visited the hospital for the past two months.
Jail superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai has written to the chief medical officer (CMO) Parvinderpal Singh thrice in two months to send a team of specialised doctors to the hospital, however he has got no response.
Besides, the stock of medicine is insufficient to serve all patients in the jail.
On Saturday, the MLA and his team visited the jail where superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai and deputy superintendent Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal discussed the issues with them.
MLA (Ludhiana East) Sanjay Talwar said, “Fund crunch has hit medicine supply in jail hospital. Jail authorities sought LED lights and ambulance too. We will provide 40 LED lights within a week that will strengthen the jail’s security system. Further, a small ambulance will be provided within two months.”
“We will provide Rs 20,000 per month to buy medicines for inmates. As far as the visit of skin, ortho, dental and eyes specialists is concerned, we will arrange for doctors from private hospitals if doctors of the civil hospital are not available. We will ensure that doctors visit the jail at least once a week. Besides, we also resolved issues of sewage and garbage lifting on Saturday,” added Talwar.
Asked about pollution caused by the dyeing units, the Congress MLA said, “The issue has already been raised with the officials concerned. It is sad to know that inmates and officials are suffering from respiratory and other ailments because of the polluted caused by dyeing factories in the area. I will take up the matter. Industries would not be allowed to pollute environment at any cost.”
In June, nearly 100 inmates have written to the jail officials showing concern over pollution caused by factories. They had claimed that pollution has made them sick, leaving them with respiratory, skin and eye ailments.
Representative image
