Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has proposed “Mobile Air Dispensary” service for remote and far-flung areas of Northeast, which would envisage a mobile dispensary in a Helicopter with a doctor, necessary equipment and medicines that can fly to remote and far-flung on regular basis and also, as and when required. He said, particularly in areas from where patients find it difficult to reach a dispensary, a doctor with dispensary can reach them. The same experiment, which would possibly be the first of its kind in the country, can also be replicated in other hill States and remote areas having poor connectivity like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh etc, he added.
On the first day of his two-day visit to Manipur, Dr Jitendra Singh was speaking to media persons after meeting the Governor, Dr. Najma Heptulla followed by a review meeting with State Administration in Imphal today. He appreciated the Governor for having endorsed this idea by citing the example of “Royal Flying Service of Australia”, popularly known as “Flying Doctors”, which is meant to provide aid and primary health care service in rural and remote areas. He said this idea has already been discussed with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and MoS Shri Jayant Sinha has indicated the inclination to work out its feasibility. Meanwhile, he said, he has also held negotiations with the management of some of the leading helicopter companies in the country. Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that soon, the officers of DoNER Ministry, North Eastern Council and the Government of Manipur will also sit with the officials of Union Ministry of Health to work out the modalities.
Dr Jitendra Singh also discussed issues related to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s announcement to set-up a Sports University in Manipur and sought an expeditious decision on allotment of land for setting up the Sports University. This will help in grooming the Northeastern youth in a professional manner, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Union Government accords high priority to Northeastern States and therefore, it is the responsibility of the State Governments to extend full cooperation in implementing the Central Government schemes. He said, he is contemplating a methodology by DoNER Ministry to monitor and point out the lapses on the part of the State Government in implementing the Central schemes.
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