Decades-Old Rural Health Centre Faces Existential Crisis
In the heart of Alamgir village near Ludhiana, a healthcare institution established in the 1970s is fighting for survival against overwhelming odds. The rural dispensary, functioning as a Subsidiary Health Centre under the Zila Parishad, presents a grim picture of government neglect with its deteriorating infrastructure and critical shortage of essential medicines.
Stark Contrast Within Same Building
While the state government emphasizes healthcare improvements, the Alamgir dispensary tells a different story. The facility shares its building with an Ayushman Arogya Kendra, which operates from freshly painted, well-maintained premises. However, the dispensary section reveals a shocking contrast with cracked roofs, exposed iron reinforcement bars, and broken windows that pose serious safety concerns.
Local residents express genuine fear that rooms behind the main facility "may collapse at any time", creating an environment of constant anxiety for both patients and healthcare staff. This alarming situation persists despite the government's proclaimed focus on strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure across Punjab.
Community Rises to Fill Government Void
Frustrated by official apathy, the local community has taken healthcare matters into their own hands. The Senior Citizen Welfare Association, led by secretary Jarnail Singh Grewal, confirmed that the four-room dispensary hasn't witnessed major repairs in approximately 20 years.
The association mobilized resources through donations from local residents and non-resident Indians to undertake urgent structural repairs. Their intervention included strengthening the veranda, repairing critical rooms, and even constructing a new washroom facility - all achievements accomplished without government support.
Medicines have become another battleground for community action. With government supplies proving consistently inadequate, villagers recently donated approximately 25 types of essential medicines to keep the dispensary functional. Darshan Singh, a local resident, acknowledged that while the doctor and staff remain helpful, they operate in a state of helplessness due to persistent medical supply shortages.
Official Responses and Unfulfilled Promises
Kiranjot Singh Jyoti, the village sarpanch affiliated with the ruling party, validated the community's concerns. "The condition is so bad that cement from the roof keeps on falling and there is no medicine available," he stated, demanding immediate government intervention to revamp the structure and ensure consistent medicine supply, particularly for economically disadvantaged residents.
The Senior Citizen Welfare Association has escalated their demands, arguing that Alamgir's historical significance and substantial population of around 7,000 people - serving surrounding areas like Duley, Kaind, Sarinh, and nearby colonies - justifies the allocation of a Mohalla Clinic.
Association president Charan Singh revealed that they had previously written to Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh and received a site visit from the additional deputy commissioner, who promised assistance that never materialized.
When confronted about the medicine shortages and community donations, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Amarjit Singh Bains suggested the doctor-in-charge hadn't officially reported the issues. Bains committed to investigating the situation and arranging necessary repairs and medicines if verification confirms the problems.
This healthcare crisis in Alamgir village underscores the growing disparity between government healthcare promises and ground realities, forcing rural communities to become their own saviors in maintaining basic medical services.
