March 24, 2022
Aparupa Poddar’s Zero Hour notice on restoring the facilities at Tarapur Hospital for bidi workers
Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in the ‘Zero Hour’, Sir, approximately 2.2 million people in West Bengal, and 95 per cent of the total population of the adjoining States, are directly associated with beedimaking industry. A 65-bedded Tarapur Central Labour Hospital in Jangipur was set up by the Union Ministry of Labour in 2000. It was inaugurated by the former President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. It was built on 40 acres of land. There was a 50-bed Gynaecology and Paediatric Unit with seven doctors. There were operation theatre, laboratory, various machineries and other things. Later in 2003, 15 more beds were added. Beedi workers and their family members were able to avail treatment free of cost in this hospital against their identity cards issued by the Ministry of
Labour. Day by day the condition of the hospital deteriorated and now only two doctors are left. Beedi workers and other people who were availing treatment in this particular hospital are not able to get a good treatment over there. Due to this reason, they have to go to the State hospitals which are far away from this place. There is a sub-divisional hospital which is 30 kilometres away from Jangipur. There is also Malda Medical Hospital which is 40 kilometres away. So, they have to travel a very long distance.
