Mid-day Meal Bhattal Bhallian camp 

5th May, 2007

Community briefing

Today the Shirya Bhatt Mission Hospital Jammu launched Mid day meal for children residing in refugee camps. In its first phase today in a grand function at Battal Balia Camp Udhampur the programme was launched for 200 children of the camp by a well known social activist and a business man from Mumbai Pt. Moti Koul who was the chief guest on the occasion. Dr.K.L.Chowdhury presided over the function and Dr.Agnishekhar was the guests of honour.

During his inaugural speech Pt. Moti Koul appreciated the role of Shirya Bhatt Mission Hospital but at the same time expressed great shock to know that 85% children residing in camps are suffering from Anemia. He said that he will use his good offices to highlight the problems of these hapless children and wished to provide such mid day meal to the children in other refugee camps.

Dr. K.L. Chowdhury the chairman of Shirya Bhatt Mission Hospital in his speech said that operation child Health which we have launched today for the children of Battal Ballia camp is the first of the commitments that the mission has made towards its larger goal of “Community Health Project”. Under these projects we are going to take the services of the hospital right into the camps and the homes of the displaced population. These will include medical survey, disease detection camps, treatment camps etc. towards this we already launched the Asthma detection and control camp at Battal Ballia and examined, investigated and treated the patients of asthma. He lauded the exemplary role of social activists Sh.Vir ji Bhat,Roop Krishen Pandita,Sudesh Dhar, Rajesh Dhar, Anil chowdhury, Sanjay Moza, Omji Bhat,Ramesh Raina, Virinder Raina and Aadersh Ajit  for making these camps possible and exhorted the whole community to emulate their example.

Dr.Agnishekhar during his speech said that it is a matter of shame that the present State and Central Govt. could not find any time to visit this camp despite the issue was raised by us in the second and third RTC. He said that the life in these camps has already been declared as “Animal Existence” by the Human rights commission and it is Genocide like condition. While indicating towards the industrial pollution of the camp he said that the present situation of the Battal Balia camp is reminding us the Gas chambers of Hitler for Jews. He said the Prime Minister is worried for the welfare of those people who took the Gun against the nation and not for those who sacrificed for the sovereignty of this great nation. He said that on one hand we will try of our own to serve our community and on the other hand will highlight these problems at all foras. 

Sh. Vir Ji Bhat the Gen. Secretary of the hospital said that Govt. is providing the mid day meal under Sarva Shiksha Abhayn to all its Govt. schools but deliberately the Govt. schools of the refugee camps have been debarred from such facility. He said once again it is proved that the Govt. is giving the step motherly treatment to the exiled population. He informed that this Mid day meal will be provided by us to all the children of the camp which include 40 children from the local poor population who are also studying in the camp schools. He thanked the KOA Canada and Pt. Moti Koul for providing the funds for the meal. However he said that the funds are not sufficient even to provide the one year meal in this school and therefore will again approach to our community members for the funds.

Sh.M.L.Lolabi, Chuni Lal (camp leaders) and Sh. Shiban Ji Bhat (Santosh) the principal of the school expressed their gratitude towards to the hospital for treating the patients of the camp and providing them time and again some relief like medicines etc. They said that mid day meal is an oasis for the camp population. They said that last year the whole camp population went to see the present Chief Minister in Jammu but he did not even have a courtesy to come out of his residence for a few minutes. They said that the Govt. and its administration had totally neglected this camp.

Three girl camp students Ms.Shanika Raina,Priyanka Bhat and Vidya Bharti also spoke on the occasion. They were very enthusiastic that what the Govt. could not do for them has been done by their community. They expressed their hope that one day Shirya Bhatt Mission Hospital will be the biggest institution of our State.

Among others the leading writer of our community Dr.Khema Koul, Sanjay Moza Gen.Secretary Panun Kashmir and Ramesh Bhat from Jammu were present at the occasion.

Today’s rally and programme was organized by Rajesh Dhar,O.N.Bhat,A.Ajit, Anil Chowdhury, Ramesh Raina,Virender Raina, Shiban Ji Bhat, Nana Ji Kanth,Tej Krishen,Himalya Sumbli,Chandji Kak and other social activists  under the supervision of Sh.Roop.K.Pandita  and Sh.Sudesh Dhar.

The programme was compared beautifully by Ms Meenakshi a brilliant teacher of the school.

(RK.Pandita)