Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today envisioned that Punjab would soon emerge as a front runner state in the terms of the best health care and education infrastructure in the country, as our government had sharpened its focus on the overall development and growth of these key sectors. Addressing the public gathering after the formal inauguration of the Regional Spinal Injury Center (RSIC) here at Sector 70, Mr. Badal said that to ensure the best and affordable health care & diagnostic services besides imparting the quality education at all levels be it at school, college and university level was the prime objective of our government. He said this center equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities would provide the best treatment to the patients inflicted with spinal injuries besides paraplegics from Punjab, Haryana, Union Territory of Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and J&K within their reach. He said that the state government would spare no efforts to make the RSIC as a leading institute in the country. Mr. Badal mentioned that the state government had already spent Rs.7 crore on this prestigious institute. On the occasion, Mr. Badal announced a grant of Rs.2 crore for the purchase of requisite medical equipment, infrastructure besides the completion of remaining construction works. To ensure smooth functioning of the RSIC, he also announced to create a dedicated fund in terms of corpus to make this institute economically viable and financially sustainable to meet out its day-to-day expenses for which a budgetary provision would be made in the annual state budget 2012-13. Showing deep concern over the growing trend of drug menace particularly amongst the youth, Mr. Badal sought cooperation from the people to combat this social evil to save our youth which had gone astray. He also asked the Health & Family Welfare Minister Madan Mohan Mittal to show no complacency towards the culprits involved in drug trafficking. He said the Punjab government would soon evolve a time bound action plan to tackle the problem of drug addiction and initiate a campaign to motivate the youth who had fallen prey to the drugs in order to bring them in the mainstream through proper counseling and guidance by the drug de-addiction centers across the state. Later talking to the media persons, Mr. Badal said that Congress led UPA government would soon be decimated from the Centre as the Congress party had to face a humiliating defeat in the Municipal Corporation elections of Delhi at the hands of BJP. He categorically said that the defeat of Congress was a pointer towards the fact that its days were numbered at the Center due to its rampant corruption, mal administration and autocratic functioning.On the question of validity of the appointments of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in the State, Mr. Badal said that Punjab was not only the state which has appointed them rather there were many other states which had followed this practice. Justifying the appointment of CPSs, Mr. Badal said that they were the elected representatives of the people and discharging their duties in assisting the Ministers to whom they were attached. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Health, Family Welfare and Social Security Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mitttal said that RSIC was the first Center which had been made functional besides three others set up in country at Jabalpur, Cuttak and Raibraile which were still non functional. He said that the state government was committed to provide the best health care facilities to the people especially in the rural areas. All the doctors and paramedics have been asked to be punctual and discharge their duties with utmost sincerity, honesty and commitment. He also mentioned the initiatives taken by the Health department to curb the malady of drug addiction through a vigorous campaign to raid the chemist shops across the state. He asked the people to freely contact him on his Mobile No.9876741554 regarding any complaint of drug trafficking and sought their whole hearted cooperation in this crusade against drug addiction and assured them their identity would not disclosed. In her address, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Social Security Development of Women & Children Mrs. Nasaara Khatoon called upon the people to support the government in its efforts to curb the menace of drug addiction which was posing a great threat to our future generations. In his speech former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia recalled his association with this prestigious project since its inception when he held the portfolio of social security, empowerment and justice as Cabinet Minister. In his welcome address, Principal Secretary Social Security Development of Women & Children TR Sarangal said that this institute would cater to the health care needs of the region and hoped it would soon become a premier institution to provide best treatment to the patients inflicted with spinal injuries.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion Director RSIC Dr. Raj Bahadur urged the Chief Minister to give liberal financial grant to enable this institute to come up to its profile. He also requested Mr. Badal to take up the matter with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare GoI and Chandigarh Administration for signing a MoU with Punjab government to give technical guidance and support to RSIC through PGIMER and Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 respectively.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion Director Social Security, Development of Women & Children Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam and SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar besides senior officers of civil and police administration, party leaders and workers of SAD-BJP.