Wednesday, April, 25, 2018
  • Nation
  • World
  • States
  • Cities
  • Business
  • Sport
    • IPL
    • Commonwealth Games 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Life Style
  • Specials
  • Opinions
  • All Sections  
    States Tamil Nadu Kerala Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Telangana Odisha
    Cities Chennai DelhiBengaluru Hyderabad Kochi Thiruvananthapuram
    Nation World Business Sport Cricket Football Tennis Other Education
    Entertainment English Hindi Kannada Malayalam Tamil Telugu Review Galleries Videos
    Auto Life style Tech Health Travel Food Books Spirituality
    Opinions Editorials Ask Prabhu Columns Prabhu Chawla T J S George S Gurumurthy Ravi Shankar Shankkar Aiyar Shampa Dhar-Kamath Karamatullah K Ghori
    Today's Paper Edex Indulge Event Xpress Magazine The Sunday Standard E-paper
Home States Kerala

Hospitals’ apathy put NSS’ Punarjani drive in deathbed

By Shafeeq Alingal  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 17th July 2017 07:43 AM  |  

Last Updated: 17th July 2017 07:43 AM  |   A+A A-   |  

0

Share Via Email

KOZHIKODE: The ‘Punarjani’ initiative of the technical cell of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has been highly appreciated for making non-functional equipment in government hospitals available for staff and patients. Thanks to the scheme, the state saved Rs 30 crore by repairing damaged and out-of-use furniture since the initiative’s launch in 2013.
But as the adage goes, ‘no good deed goes unpunished’. The NSS volunteers of an engineering college were the latest to learn this when they visited the Perinthalmanna District Hospital seeking permission to hold a ‘repairing camp’ at the hospital.

“When we reached the hospital, we were asked to meet the officer in charge of the finance section. To our dismay, the officer discouraged us from holding the camp, claiming the hospital had already signed a contract with a government agency for the purpose,” said an NSS volunteer.
The volunteers alleged the hospital authorities were reluctant to cooperate as they hoped to make financial gains by contracting outside agencies to repair the furniture.
This is not the first time NSS volunteers in the state are denied permission to hold such camps despite their sterling success. In 2014, authorities of the Idukki District Hospital turned down the volunteers’ request to hold a camp.

“Authorities of a hospital even told the volunteers not to ‘spoil’ the livelihood of ‘several persons’ who were earning their bread from contracts to repair damaged equipment,” said Abdul Jabbar Ahmed, state coordinator of NSS technical wing. “Some hospitals remain reluctant in accepting our help. They might be driven by financial interests,” he alleged.
In 2016, ‘Punarjani’ saved the state exchequer Rs 19.5 crore by conducting 74 camps in 71 hospitals and three colleges. A total of 57 engineering colleges and technical institutions participated in the camps. Only Rs 75 lakh was spent on buying raw materials, refreshments and t-shirts.

Camps at 55 govt hospitals

The NSS technical cell will hold camps under the ‘Punarjani’ initiative in 55 government hospitals across the state during the Onam vacation. The technical cell is looking create assets worth Rs 18 crore through the seven-day camps.

Stay up to date on all the latest Kerala news with The New Indian Express App. Download now

O
P
E
N

More from this section

Kerala: Winners of Moodakulam's 'rural' cricket tournament to take home 1.5 litres of petrol

Four drown in Karnataka's Srinivas Sandra lake

Kerala Tourism Department to silence detractors with movies on elephant care and festivals

Latest

IPL 2018: RCB score 205/8 against CSK

Call Details Records case: Actress Udita Goswami questioned

Google most trusted Internet brand in India

Ravi Pujari gang members jailed for Mahesh Bhatt murder plot

Congress, BJP join hands to rule Chakma Council in Mizoram

RSS backed panel blames Maoists for Bhima-Koregaon violence

Gujarat cop jailed for assaulting, abusing Dalit man

Gorakhpur tragedy:  Dr Kafeel Khan granted bail

IPL2018
Videos
Kerala: A glimpse of spectacular Thrissur Pooram
Godman Asaram Bapu and two others convicted in 2013 rape case
arrow
Gallery
The trailer of 'Veere Di Wedding', featuring actresses Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhasker, Sonam Kapoor and Shikha Tilsania, which was released at a grand event today, sparkles with chic chick splendour. (PTI Photo)
IN PHOTOS | Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhasker, Sonam Kapoor, Shikha Tilsania launch 'Veere Di Wedding' trailer
Salah produced two world-class finishes in the first half then set up further goals for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to help his team into a scarcely believable five-goal lead in the Champions League semifinals. In pic: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's second goal of the game against Roma during their Champions League, Semifinal first leg soccer match at Anfield. (Photo | AP)
Mohamed Salah magic leads Liverpool to 5-2 win over Roma in Champions League semis
arrow

Trending

FOLLOW US

Copyright - newindianexpress.com 2018

Dinamani | Kannada Prabha | Samakalika Malayalam | Malayalam Vaarika | Indulgexpress | Edex Live | Cinema Express | Event Xpress

Contact Us | About Us | Careers | Privacy Policy | Search | Terms of Use | Advertise With Us

Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday Standard