Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Apr 28: Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), led by its Dakshina Kannada district committee, were detained by the police on Tuesday while marching towards the district in-charge minister’s office to demand significant improvements in the public healthcare system.
The protesters launched their 'Chalo' padyatra from the Government Wenlock Hospital. As they headed towards the minister’s office, the police intervened and took several activists and leaders into custody. They were released later in the day.
The DYFI put forward several key demands, including the cancellation of agreements handing over government hospitals to private management, the establishment of a government medical college in every district, and the setting up of a Jayadeva heart hospital in the district. They further called for upgrading Government Wenlock Hospital to a regional hospital, strengthening all public health facilities, and stricter regulation of private hospitals.
Addressing the gathering, DYFI district president B K Imtiyaz alleged that the congress-led state government had ignored the organisation’s demands for several years. He accused the health department of favouring private hospital lobbies instead of strengthening public healthcare and criticised the BJP for its silence on the issue.
DYFI district secretary Santosh Bajal noted that the number of heart and cancer patients seeking treatment in government hospitals has increased sharply over the past year. He stated that despite repeated demands for Kidwai and Jayadeva speciality hospitals in the district, the government has neglected the healthcare rights of the people. He added that the DYFI would continue its struggle despite attempts to suppress protests by denying permission.
Senior rationalist Prof Narendra Nayak flagged off the padyatra and addressed the participants.
The police halted the march before it reached its destination, detaining hundreds of activists. Several district leaders, labour union representatives, women’s organisation members, Dalit rights activists, and student leaders participated in the protest.