THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Education Minister C Raveendranath said the Punarjani project is a model initiative for the state. Speaking after inaugurating the mega camp of the National Service Scheme (NSS) Technical cell under the Department of Technical Education, he said Punarjani is designed to make use of the non-functional equipment and the basic facilities in government institutions, particularly Government Hospitals, by making use of the services of NSS technical cell volunteers.
The project aims to provide valuable equipment in hospitals like operation table, nebulisers, BP apparatus, couches, tables, drip stands, trolleys and wheelchairs by repairing damaged and out-of-use furniture and other health-care facilities at Government Hospitals. Last year, the authorities held 55 NSS Punarjani camps in about 60 government institutions, ensuring the participation of 5,000 NSS Technical Cell volunteers.
Assets around `50 crore were repaired and re-installed. Since 2013, about 242 hospitals, schools, public institutions, etc. were rejuvenated by making use of the service of 300 programme officers and 18,500 volunteers from all over Kerala.
As a result, they could make use of assets worth `91.64 crore, he said. Following the success of the project, the state government has earmarked `1 crore in the last Budget to take the initiative forward.The Education Minister inaugurated the camp by repairing an autoclave machine at Government Ayurvedic Medical College Thiruvananthapuram. The principal of the institution presided over the event. NSG technical officer coordinator Ajitha S, deputy director of Technical Education Velayudhan, NSS Kerala Lakshadweep regional director Sajith Babu, NSS state officer Sabu Kuttan, RMO Dr K Gopakumar, district programme officer Manu V Kumar attended.
About 350 volunteers from different engineering colleges and polytechnics are participating in the mega camp being held at the Medical College, Ayurveda Medical College, Homoeo Medical College, Directorate of Technical Eduation Department, KSRTC depot.