OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: Protest by citizens and different organizations opposing the move to merge and shift the RN Brahma Civil Hospital situated in the heart of Kokrajhar town with Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital, Besorgaon, continues in Kokrajhar. The All Assam Tribal Studnts' Union (AATU) on Sunday staged protest in front of the RN Brahma Civil Hospital demanding that the premier hospital should remain in the same place. The protest was also joined by the citizens of Kokrajhar town and salesmen and members of Kokrajhar Pharmacies' Association.
On Saturday, the Kokrajhar district committee, ABSU, Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) and Boro Somaj, Dularai Boro Harimu Afad (DBHA) staged protest in front of the civil hospital and submitted memorandum to Chief Minister through the Kokrajhar DC demanding to stop the merging of the RN Brahma Civil Hospital with Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital, running of the civil hospital without any effect and early opening of Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital with full function. Earlier, the Bodo National Students' Union (BoNSU), Pharmacies' Association, Kokrajhar Merchant Association and other citizens staged protest against the move. On January 24, there will be another strong protest in Kokrajhar against the move to merge the civil hospital.
The denizens of Kokrajhar have vehemently opposed the move to merge the existing RN Brahma Civil Hospital located in the heart of Kokrajhar town with the Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital situated at Besorgaon, 9 km north of Kokrajhar town. The citizens of Kokrajhar demanded that the RN Brahma Civil Hospital, the only premier hospital of BTC region, should not be shifted from the present location.
The civil hospital was set up in 1954 by the first Bodo minister Rupnath Brahma. He was the longest serving tribal minister and he was also a noted poet, writer and a great tribal leader of Assam. Rupnath Brahma hailed from Owabari near Kokrajhar town. The civil hospital was renamed as RN Brahma Civil Hospital in his name. The hospital is equipped with many modern equipment and it is giving tremendous service to the people of lower Assam. The CEM of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Pramod Boro on Saturday visited RN Brahma Civil Hospital accompanied by EM of Health and Family Welfare, Arup Kr. Dey and interacted with the employees and staff of the hospital and assured that the hospital would not be shifted from the present location.
Boro, while replying to queries of reporters, said the civil hospital would not be shifted but would remain in the same place. He said there was no proposal for shifting of the hospital to the Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital other than amalgamating some sections which in fact will be beneficial for the people. He also said the RN Brahma Civil Hospital would be a superspeciality district hospital. A section of people wit vested interests was trying to make it an issue by staging protest programmes, he said adding that the citizens of Kokrajhar should not be misguided and pharmacists had nothing to worry as the hospital would not be shifted and there was no question of shifting of the civil hospital.
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