‘Set up NIMHANS in Kalaburagi’

Expressing a serious concern about improvement in health and education sectors in Kalaburagi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to establish a branch of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, which is popularly known as NIMHANS, a mental health centre in Kalaburagi.

He made the demand to the Chief Minister while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research Centre in Kalaburagi on Sunday evening.

Kharge emphasised the need for establishing health centres such as NIMHANS in Kalaburagi. He said people are travelling to Bengaluru for treatment for any mental health-related issues. If a branch is established, they will get a similar treatment here.

He also demanded an Institute of Diabetology and a grant to rejuvenate Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, with all facilities, including required buildings.

“The buildings in which classes are running have become older and remained unpainted for many years. There are many vacancies in the teaching section. The Chief Minister should release a grant and develop the university like Bengaluru and Mysore with new departments to facilitate the students intended to pursue the different departments and fill vacancies,” he said.

“Wherever I go, like in Maharashtra and other states, people say that Kalaburagi has been developed. But, I feel it is yet to be developed fully. The Chief Minister should ensure overall development because the people of this region have elected five candidates of the Congress in the Parliament election. The airport has been built, but flight services have been suspended recently. Hence, Siddaramaiah should look into it,” Kharge said, adding that ministers and MLAs of this region should approach the chief minister often to get the works done.

He expressed unhappiness, saying that someone is trying to prevent the poor from getting an education. He, therefore, appealed to all to get an education to join hands to eradicate the backward label. Kharge also said that educational institutions should be developed more like in Bengaluru, Mysore, and Belagavi.

Hyderabad Karnataka Education Institutions, established by renowned personality Mahadevappa Rampure to provide education in the region, should be supported, he added.