The agitation by doctors working at the well-known Hindu Rao Hospital in the national capital, has brought to fore several important issues, which should be addressed by the authorities without any further delay. During the time when the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of the common man, the doctors, who are the frontline warriors battling the dreaded disease, should be properly looked after. It is indeed appalling that the medical staff at this hospital has not been paid their salaries for over three months, and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which runs the historic institution, appears to be cash strapped.
The civic body, which is currently controlled by the BJP, has blamed the Delhi government for not releasing adequate funds, so that the wages of the medical staff can be paid. On its part, the Delhi government has asked the municipal authorities to hand over the hospital to it, if they were having difficulty running it. The Hindu Rao Hospital is amongst the oldest medical centres in the capital, and was regarded as the principal ealth care place for patients, particularly those residing in North Delhi.
Dr Sambit Patra, the BJP national spokesman, was once a doctor there, but decided to enter public life as a full-time politician. In the past, some of the most eminent doctors of the city were associated with this august institution, located on the Ridge, close to the Delhi University, the 1857 Freedom struggle memorial and the Ashoka Pillar. Over the years, the hospital has expanded but it is evident that its problems continue to persist, largely because of inefficient management by those who are supposed to run it. In fact, the trifurcation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi during the Sheila Dikshit government’s tenure, has created a financial crisis in all the three civic bodies. This has led to great hardships amongst the citizens, who have far more dealings with the municipal bodies than they have with either the Central or Delhi government. This was primarily the reason, why Dikshit had chosen to divide the corporation into three bodies since both the Mayor and the Chairman of the Standing committee, had immense powers which many a times were overriding over hers. At one junction, even when the Congress was in power both in the corporation and in Delhi government, the late Ram Babu Sharma, the Standing Committee Chairman, had a clout which Dikshit envied. The trifurcation has created hurdles for the three bodies, and even important records related to births and deaths, as also properties have gone missing from the records that were once kept at the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk.
Keeping in view the complexities that are involved, the Central and Delhi governments, must think of reviewing the earlier decision and reversing the trifurcation, a difficult and improbable task. It may affect the bureaucracy and the political class which share the spoils, but the decision shall serve the people better. At least, the doctors who are virtually on a strike, would be paid their dues on time, and the importance of the municipal corporation would be restored. The Mayor, and not the CM or Lieutenant Governor, has always been the first citizen of the city.