On the heels of the people’s struggle at Melauli, Ribandar to now 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 Health Minister Vishwajit Rane having approved 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 given to the government to decide on having the Ribnadar Health Centre at the Old Ribandar Hospital or face the public outcry from January 26th. 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 Matias and Goltim-Navelim in Divar. That medical facilities be restored at the Old Ribandar Hospital has been a longstanding and consistent demand of the people over the years. In August 2017 during that Panaji by-election the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised the residents of Ribandar that he would ensure that within three months full medical facilities were restored at the old Ribandar Hospital while Babush Monserrate in his May 2019 by-election manifesto had also promised the same. 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 Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
