Mangaluru: DCP (law and order) Sam Varghese has said that he would advise concerned authorities to set up a display board indicating the availability of beds, including ICU facilities, at Wenlock District Hospital.Chairing the SC/ST grievance redressal meeting held at the Mangaluru city police commissioner’s office on Saturday, he gave this assurance following demands raised by Dalit leaders. Citing a specific case, Adi Dravida Sangha leader Vishwanath Bantwal said that a brain tumour patient, who could not afford private hospital treatment, was brought to Wenlock Hospital around 4pm a few days ago. However, the patient was made to wait for hours under the pretext that beds were not available.Dalit leader Anil Kankanady alleged that many such incidents occur at the hospital. He cited a case where a retired civic worker was told there were no beds and was subsequently admitted to a private hospital that cost him Rs 50,000 per day.Dalit leader SP Anand demanded an investigation into whether there is a genuine shortage of beds or if this is being done intentionally to divert patients to private hospitals. He noted that poor patients are constantly kept on waiting lists. Like how private hospitals are instructed to display rate lists, Wenlock Hospital must also install a display board showing bed availability, he said.‘Clear illegal vendors’SP Anand complained that about 20 roadside stalls in front of Lady Goschen Hospital are blocking the footpath and road to carry out business, making it impossible for paurakarmikas to clean and causing inconvenience to pedestrians and passing vehicles.The DCP said action would be taken regarding this. Anand complained that a garage near Marnamikatte Circle was repairing vehicles on the road despite multiple complaints. A local traffic police officer replied that a notice had been issued to them. Further, Anand demanded that a proper inquiry be conducted to provide justice to a couple from Surathkal, who have been striving for a Rs 10 lakh Mudra loan to set up a self-employment unit for the past nine months. He accused the bank manager of refusing to grant the loan, claiming that SC individuals do not repay loans.
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