Charitable Hospital Closed, Residents Block Road

Hamirpur: Hundreds of residents in Hamirpur staged protests on Thursday, blocking the Shimla-Dharamshala National Highway for nearly two hours in response to the planned closure of a charitable hospital run by Radha Soami Satsang Beas. Protesters blocked roads at Sulangan, Budhwin Chowk, and Salauni, causing disruptions to traffic on both sides of the highway.

The demonstrations started on Monday after the sect put up a notice on the hospital's main gate informing people that it will not be able to give its services from December 1.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that residents of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh staged a protest on Monday against the reported closure of a 75-bed charitable hospital operated by Radha Soami Satsang Beas in the Bhota area.

Demanding a written assurance or notification from the state government that the hospital would not be closed, the protestors have warned of road blockades daily from 10 am to 4 pm if their demands are not met.

The protesters were served lunch and tea on the spot by villagers. Senior revenue and police officers were also present at the spot to maintain law and order situation.

Also Read:Protests Erupt After Closure of 75-Bed Bhota Charitable Hospital

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, the 75-bed hospital on the Hamirpur-Shimla highway gives free medical facilities to patients and has been running since 2000.

The charitable hospital caters to lakhs of people from over 900 villages in its 15 km radius.

The hospital is spread over an area of about 64 acres, for which the land was donated by several locals.

According to the PTI report, the Radha Soami Satsang Beas wishes to transfer it to Maharaj Jagat Singh Medical Relief Society, which the sect terms as its sister organisation.

The sect had approached the state government to transfer the hospital's land to its sister organisation but is facing some issues under the Land Ceiling Act.

The request for land transfer was made to obtain GST exemption in the purchase of machinery and other equipment to upgrade the hospital facilities.

Hospital administrator Colonel Jaggi (retired) had said that notice was put up on the gate following the orders of the sect management as so far no written assurance has been received from the state government.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had maintained that the state government is contemplating to bring an ordinance for making provision in the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holding Act, 1972 to transfer the land.

"Legal aspects would be considered to make provision in this regard and the matter would be discussed in the winter session of assembly and if any changes have to be made in the law that will also be done, " he had added.

The issue has taken a political turn as the BJP has extended its full support to the people.

Former chief minister P K Dhumal who was instrumental in opening of this hospital in 1999-2000 said that the state government should ensure smooth running of the hospital in the public interest as such charitable health institutes are beneficial for both the government and the public.

Also Read:Haryana CM lays foundation stone of Rs 12.30 crore Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Charitable Hospital