108 ambulance staff ignorant of first aid: TP members

At the Udupi Taluk Panchayat general body meeting held recently, the members expressed their displeasure towards the system’s inefficiency to solve their problems.

Sunitha Shetty, a member, complained that most of the time, the officials do not take the issues raised seriously, and do not do anything to solve them. They said that the new rules for the 108-Ambulance are confusing and also alleged that the ambulance staff is ignorant of the first aid treatment.

Sunitha said that the ambulance staff behave irresponsibly and treat the patients without compassion. It is essential to equip the vehicle with all the necessary emergency treatment kits as part of the first-aid.

The present rule insists that the ambulance must take the patient to a government hospital. If the required
treatment is not available at the government hospital, then the patients can be shifted to other private hospital, she added.

Member Vasanthi Poojary objected for the electrification done for an illegal construction under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana. She demanded that the connection should be disconnected.

Tahsildar Pradeep Kuredkar said that the compensation packages for losses caused by the rain is available and the first phase amount is already paid.

As per the new rule, the second and final instalments would be paid immediately. Members objected stating that the damages occurred nearly a month ago and the administration is not initiating any action.

Housing scheme

Retorting to query over the irregularities in the housing scheme, the official said that as many as 3,977 houses under various housing schemes are struck owing to the mistakes of names in the Aadhaar cards. The problem exists in all panchayats and the solution is possible only at the government level.

There was also dissatisfaction among the members for the delayed process of the title deeds, causing the beneficiaries to suffer. Tahsildar said that at present, temporary title deeds are offered and once the full payment is done, the beneficiary would be given the permanent title deed immediately.

He added that the conversion problem has been sort out and the log-in for the conversion is made available. He added revenue sketch should be produced for the conversion process. The log-in for the ration cards would be made available shortly, he added.

The other issue that was raised was the inclusion of the gram panchayats in and around Kaup into the town municipality of Kaup. The members alleged that the development works are hampered as the villages are all included under Urban Development Authority.

Sunitha Shetty said that material payments, under MGNREG Scheme, has also not been done. The officer said that the women in the taluk are offered a one-year training in tailoring and are given Rs 300 stipend per month. At the end of the year after completing the course, the beneficiaries are given stitching machines free of cost.