STATE TIMES NEWS
KISHTWAR: Former minister and National Conference MLC, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo on Monday lodged a strong protest in Legislative Council over the denial of helicopter for lifting a pregnant lady, saying the callous attitude of the PDP-BJP Government led to her death for want of timely medicare.
Soon after the Council met for the day’s business, Kichloo raised the issue and sought immediate and time bound probe to fix the responsibility of the erring officials and medicos. Kichloo said the 24-year old pregnant lady Gulshan Begum, wife of Mohammed Ramzan, resident of Passer Marwah, admitted in Primary Health Service Marwah, developed serious complications and needed to be airlifted for specialized treatment. However, since the concerned agencies failed in providing the chopper services, the hapless lady and her child died in the PHC, causing agony to the family and resentment in the area.
“The government needs to explain what steps have been taken for tackling such situations in remote areas, especially in the wake of current harsh weather conditions and landlockedness of various places”, Kichloo said and sought a time found probe into the matter.
Kichloo also raised the issue during zero hour and while referring to the concern shown and reported enquiry ordered by the government as stated by the R&B Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri, he said stern action should be taken against the erring officials.
The MLC recalled the standing practice of requesting Indian Air Force for pressing into service its choppers in such cases in the past and said that nothing of the sort has happened during the past six months. He said that there are contradictions in the statement made by the Defense Ministrywith regard to airlifting of the patients in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the health Minister Mr Bali Baghat to give the factual position to the House. He said that state government had two state owned choppers that could be pressed into service for airlifting the patients. “This (Death of Gulshana Begum) is not a case in isolation where a young woman has lost her life while waiting for the help— there are so many people in remote and inaccessible areas, who need such assistance”, Kichloo said, adding that most of the areas in his constituency had almost six feet snowfall and there were no measures for meeting eventualities like the one that of helpless pregnant lady.
On the assurance of the Health Minister, Bali Bhagat that the matter with regard to pressing into service the state choppers will be taken up with the Chief Minister, Kichloo said that such a step was immensely needed in view of the harsh winter conditions.
