Village hospital in West Bengal suffers due to Maoist menace

Dahijuri (West Bengal), Oct 5 (ANI): Normal work, including treatment of outpatients came to a standstill at the government hospital in Dahijuri village of West Bengal's West Midnapore District due to the rise in Maoist attacks.

The number of Maoist attacks has risen to such levels that it has driven away doctors and the para-medical staff, including nurses of the government hospital.

Locals residing in and around Dahijuri said that the absence of medical staff and facilities has added to their woes, as they are unable to provide proper aid to their near and dear ones.

They said that they are forced to rush to Tapsia (10 kilometres far) or Jhargram that is 35 kilometres way amid fears of Maoists posing another bottleneck enroute.

"We want that the hospital should function properly and should have a proper fence. Doctor and nurses should be here at the hospital 24x7 and the hospital should be operational throughout the day," said Rajesh Munda, a resident of Dahijuri.

Many other recalled that in the absence of timely medicare, several patients died.

"We are living in a very bad condition and are facing a lot of problems. If there are any emergency cases like diarrhoea, pregnancy and others, then there are no facilities to treat the patients here," added Babulal Ali, another resident.

Several villagers have moved out of the Maoist affected areas but those who have stayed back still linger in fear.

Many schools, hospitals, and government institutions have been attacked by the ultras and this offensive has severely affected children's education and has brought normal life to a standstill.

According to analysts, the Maoists oppose all development activity such as the construction of roads, schools, hospitals and drinking water facilities, which the administration has tried to take up.

Contractors are killed, schools are burnt, electric poles are destroyed and activities, which could lead to development, are halted. For, if development comes to the area, Maoists fear that their support base will diminish. (ANI)