PUNE: Since the maintenance and repairs of samaj mandirs is being neglected, citizens are being deprived of many facilities. Now, the civic administration has decided to start Arogyavardhini centres for providing primary treatment. It has decided 42 places where the centres would be set up.
The civic administration builds samaj mandirs for residents of slums to come together and implements socially useful programmes. The Social Welfare Department has 125 samaj mandirs.
A survey revealed that these samaj mandirs are neglected and citizens don’t get any facilities.
Hence, the buildings constructed by spending lakhs of rupees are in a poor shape. The civic budget allocates a very meagre amount for samaj mandirs. Hence, ward offices and Bhavan Department are neglecting repairs and maintenance of these mandirs.
While starting the Arogyavardhini centres, arrangements like a clinic are going to be made. Each centre has received ₹20 lakh for changing of tiles, painting of walls and setting up of toilets. Hence, at 42 places, the samaj mandirs will be completely revamped. Also, local residents will get free medicines for fever, cold, cough and other ailments.
The state125, only four centres have started functioning.
the government started Arogyavardhini centres in January 2022. However, due to lack of space in Pune, out of
However, local politicians and organisations had set up their offices in samaj mandirs and some had converted them into religious places. The civic administration faced problems while taking possession of these places after convincing the people. Hence, not a single Arogyavardhini centre has started at samaj mandirs.
The state government is going to set up 125 Arogyavardhini centres to strengthen the health system in the city and boost health facilities in newly included villages. In the first phase, 29 centres will be set up and 96 centres would be set up in the second phase. A doctor, two nurses, a dresser and a pharmacist would be appointed at each Arogyavardhini centre. These centres would be set at settlements. A survey was carried out to fix the places where samaj mandirs would be set up. The Health and Social Welfare Department has decided 42 places.
Vaishali Jadhav, Assistant Health Officer, PMC said, “The Social Welfare Department has sent a list of samaj mandirs where the Arogyavardhini centre is going to be set up. Work has started at some places. At other places, a recheck is being done to find out whether the places are suitable or not.”
