Mangaluru: Health and Family Welfare minister U T Khader distributed free digital hearing aids to 133 beneficiaries in a programme, held in the Lions Club Mallikatta here, on October 28.
Earlier to the programme, U T Khader speaking to the mediapersons said that the health department has decided to make Karnataka a deaf and mute free state. “As a pilot scheme, we introduced it to Dakshina Kannada district. Through this scheme, we have organized a camp to identify affected children; the Nasima Farida Memorial Trust in association with all Asha workers have identified 200 children. Out of these, we have identified 15 children aged below 5 years. We have already done the surgery for 10 children, the other five children are on waiting list and they will also undergo surgery free of cost. To provide free treatment for children who are above 5 years of age, we will utilize the funds of the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister. After the screening, children who do not require cochlear implants will be given digital hearing aid for free,” stated Khader.
He further said that in every hospital it will be made mandatory to check new born child for any hearing problems. The test will be done as soon as the child is born, instead of waiting for the child to grow and the parents to notice the hearing problems. The health department will provide the equipment to the hospitals to do the screening for newborns. He also said that in Lady Goschen, Intensive Care Units for mothers will be provided and that plans are being made for a Modern Maternity Hospital.
Speaking on the Koramangala-Challaghatta valley project, he said, “After becoming the minister in-charge of Kolar district, the MLAs and MPs of Kolar requested me to provide water to the district through any source. So we have decided in the Assembly to recharge the underground water table in the district’s lakes and tanks using treated water from the Koramangala-Challaghatta valley in Bengaluru. When we discussed this in the Assembly session, all the MLAs gave their consent. The total project costs Rs 1200 cr, out of which Rs 1072 cr is for the project and the rest will be utilized for maintenance. We will call for a tender and very soon work will begin; it will take a year for completion. The project has been sanctioned by the members of the Assembly. But we will not start the project without taking measures for de-silting.”
Khader also said that when any untoward incidents take place in the district, it is seen in a political angle which is very dangerous. “We all should get together and condemn criminals. Criminals should not be supported, but should be punished severely. Threat calls should be also investigated. Abhayachandra Jain received a threat call; he received it when we were going to Haveri. He is not supporting any criminals and he does not benefit in any way by supporting any culprits. We are impartial.”
When asked about why no minister has visited Prashant Poojary’s house, he replied, “One person was murdered near a temple in Bantwal and we did not visit his house. We do not have obligation to visit anyone’s house. It is upto us to visit or not. We always tell the youth not to join any such organizations. Youth can do good work and bring laurels to their parents instead of creating problems in the society.”
When asked about the compensation to Kabeer, Khader said that Kabeer was killed by a government servant and after it was confirmed, the government sanctioned the compensation. “But Prashant Poojary was murdered by a group. Why don’t the people who killed Prashant Poojary get threat calls? Why are they calling Abhayachandra Jain?” he questioned, adding, “Now when there is a murder, the opposition calls for a meeting and blames the Congress party. Youth should stay away from communal organizations.”
“We did not visit the house of Prashant Poojary. A KFD member was also murdered in Bantwal and we did not visit his house because like Prashant, he belonged to a particular organization. Even Prashant Poojary also belonged to Bajrang Dal.”
Padmashree awardee Prof (Dr) J M Hans, ENT/ Otalaryngologist Manasa Neuropsychiatric Hospital Dr Vasanthi Anand, Srinath Konde, Dr Ramakrishna Rao and District Lions Governor Kavitha Shastri were also present.
