Close on the heels of the people’s struggle at Melauli, Ribandar too is set to witness a public revolt over the failure of local MLA Babush Monserrate and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the promised Ribandar Health Care Centre at the Old Ribandar Hospital despite the Health Minister approving the project.
For the last three months we have strenuously knocked the doors of every authority and were hopeful that we would not be betrayed. But after patiently waiting all these months a 10-day ultimatum has now been issued to the government to decide on having the Ribnadar Health Centre at the Old Ribandar Hospital or face public outcry from January 26. If public agitation is the only language this government understands, so be it.
It is also deplorable that Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik despite being a resident of Ribandar wants to set up a Yoga centre at the Old Ribandar Hospital while knowing very well that the most urgent need of the hour is a fully fledged Health centre to cater to the medical needs of a now densely populated Ribandar and the people of neighbouring Chimbel, Merces, Old Goa besides Sao Mathias and Goltim-Navelim in Divar.
While the Goa Government is needlessly fast tracking unneeded projects opposed by the public, it is not setting up of the much needed Ribandar Health Center at the Old Ribandar Hospital despite it being a unanimous demand of everyone. It’s time to stop politicians from taking people for a ride.
AIRES RODRIGUUES, Ribandar
