From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 30: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised to establish 188 additional Indira Canteens this year for the benefit of the people.
He was speaking to the media after garlanding the statue of Saint Kanakadasa at the premises of the Legislators Home on Thursday.
Replying to question about Indira Canteens, the Chief Minister said that Indira Canteens will be started in all the 225 wards of Bengaluru.
Apart from this, canteens will be started where it is necessary, he said promising to start mobile canteens where there is shortage of space for Indira Canteen.
“Kanakadasa, a great saint who dreamed of an equal society and was a social reformer. He preached humanity through his literature. He was a universal man who worked hard to build an egalitarian society without discrimination. He composed many works including Ramdhanya Charite, Mohanatarangini,’’ Siddaramaiah said.
He said the State Government is celebrating Kanaka Jayanthi, to mark the birth of the great social reformer who fought to eliminate discrimination in the society.
“Kanakadasa made people aware of his ideals through literature. He composed his Dasa Sahitya in simple language so that people could understand. The Chief Minister wished all the people of the State on Kanakadasa Jayanti,’’ he said.
Responding to a question from journalists about the Chief Minister's meeting with Aland Congress MLA B R Patil, Siddaramaiah said he would be persuaded to attend the session.
Replying to a question on a patient's death due to lack of facilities, the Chief Minister said that he would discuss the matter with Director of NIMHANS.
262 modern ambulances dedicated
The Chief Minister said the State Government is committed to providing quality healthcare to the people of the State and quality service provided in Jayadeva Hospital should be available in all government hospitals
Dedicating 262 modern life-saving ambulances to the people, he warmly appreciated the work of Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao for bringing effective changes.
He asked the doctors and medical professionals to treat even those who come in old-dirty clothes humanely and provide health care to all. They must get good health care without discrimination, he said.
The government is committed to providing quality healthcare to the people of the state. 108 emergency ambulances have been provided to the health service so that no one should lose their life without getting treatment.
More than 840 ambulances are required in the state and four ambulances are functioning in each taluk to provide emergency health services to hundreds of people every day.
He explained that primary emergency treatment plays an important role in saving lives. Every district should have MRI scanning facility. Due to the high cost of services in private diagnostic centers, the poor are facing a lot of hardships.
Thousands of people are applying for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for this reason alone. Therefore, an environment is being created in the state where quality treatment is available only in government hospitals.
When good service is possible from Jayadeva Hospital, it is possible to provide the same quality service in other places. He suggested the Health Minister to focus more on North Karnataka.
Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad presided while Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar along with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao were present.