Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Choudhary Lal Singh today visited border villages of Hiranagar of Kathua district to take stock of the damaged caused due to cross border firing by Pakistan.He visited the villages Manyari, Gujjar Chak, Chandey Chak, Kadwal, Patti Marru and Boobia and interacted with people there.The Minister was accompanied by MLA Hiranagar, Kuldeep Raj, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Hiranagar, Chief Medical Officer Kathua Dr. Basant Kumar besides police and officers of civil administration.Expressing sympathies with the cross firing hit families of Hiranagar, Choudhary Lal Singh said that government is fully aware of the problems of the people of border belt and in this regard government is planning to establish a township at safer distance from the border for the safety of the people.
The Minister assured them all necessary help from the government and directed civil administration and police to be vigilant and asked to ensure the safety of the people. He also directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to submit a report of the suffered by the villagers so that the relief under norms could be disbursed among them.Choudhary Lal Singh also directed concerned officers to remain present in their respective jurisdictions to deal with any emergency situation and for prompt action. He asked people to remain vigilant and also advised the villagers to stay indoors and at safer places during cross border shelling.
The villagers of the area also apprised the Minister with their demands which included construction of permanent concrete bunkers for every household, inclusion RBA category, increase in compensation given to persons killed in cross border firing.Later, Choudhary Lal Singh also visited Primary Health Centre Mahreen and inspected the healthcare facilities being provided to the people in the area.Responding to the locals demand, the Minister asked the Director Health Services to post one physician in the hospital for the treatment of the people. He also directed them to provide one dental chair and X-ray machine facilities in the hospital. He asked to immediately start the white wash work of the hospital under hospital outsourced funds.