Free food, but forced to eat in open

Tirupati: There seems to be no one to care for patient attendants in government hospitals. In a typical situation, though the TTD is providing solace to thousands of patient attendants by providing them food every day at all important government hospitals, the hospital managements do not care to provide basic amenities. They do not have any place earmarked for having food comfortably.

In the city there are important hospitals like Ruia, SVIMS, BIRRD, Ayurveda and Institute of Pregnant Women etc. Thousands of patients visit these hospitals daily from Rayalaseema and Nellore districts.

In a noble gesture, TTD which has been rendering yeomen service in Tirumala providing ‘Anna Prasadam’ to thousands of devotees through its Annaprasadam trust, has extended supply of Sambar rice and curd rice for the attendants of patients in afternoon and night.

TDP supplies hot and tasty food through a vehicle to Ruia, SVIMS, BIRRD, Ayurveda hospital, Maternity Hospital etc. According to an official, they cater to 2,500 persons in all at these hospitals in the afternoon and for about 1,500 persons during nights.

In Ruia hospital, food is being provided for 900 persons while 700 attendants are getting the same at SVIMS and other hospitals. Food is served in paper plates. But the people have to stand in long queues and eat in the open on all days, including summer or rainy days.

The situation is somewhat different in SVIMS and BIRRD. In SVIMS, authorities arranged a few benches, but they are insufficient. At RuiaHospital, the situation is even more pathetic as there are neither benches or a hall.  At BIRRD, however, food is served in a hall.

The other hospital managements’ apathy in providing shelters for attendants to eat food is causing hardships to the beneficiaries.  Poor labourers, migrant workers and destitutes also take food. 

The hospital development society (HDS) led by the Collector PS Pradyumna has to consider it seriously and take a decision in this regard. Ruia Hospital Superintendent Dr B Sidda Naik says they have been looking for donors to build a shelter and would take this matter to the notice of Collector at the HDS meeting and seek funds.