Upgrading KR Hospital is my First Priority: GT Devegowda

Affirming his commitment to upgrading Krishna Rajendra (KR) Hospital, the leading government healthcare center at the heart of the city, into a super specialty center soon, Mysuru district in-charge minister GT Devegowda on Monday said that he had discussed the issue with chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in Belagavi recently. “Upgrading KR Hospital is my first priority. I wanted to hold a discussion about improving facilities at the hospital with doctors and other officials. But I was unable to do so because I had to attend the session. With the assembly session having concluded now, I will convene a meeting soon,” said Devegowda. Referring to the Sulwadi temple tragedy, Devegowda said that there were many lessons to be learnt from the horrifying incident. “In the future, when such incidents occur, we need to take immediate action by roping in private hospitals and forming teams to address multiple problems. I have already held a discussion with the district health officer. In such circumstances, private hospitals must provide free treatment. The government will reimburse them,” he added.

Officers must visit villages, listen to people’s woes

Expressing dismay over reports of water shortage being reported months ahead of summer, Devegowda said, “Wherever I go, people complain to me about shortage of drinking water. Officers must visit the villages and listen to the public.” However, Devegowda said that completion of the Undavadi drinking water project would put an end to the problem. “The project will be completed soon,” he said. Devegowda, also the Karnataka minister for higher education, said that the department had initiated the process to fill up as many as 1200 vacancies in educational institutions across the state. “Verification of documents of 800 candidates is under way, and we will recruit 400 others soon,” he added. The minister stated that vice-chancellors would be appointed to all universities soon. Buoyed by the University Grants Commission’s support to institutions of higher education in Karnataka, Devegowda said that the state government would share the expenses. “We will introduce 512 new courses in the state soon. We will create 120 posts in 17 colleges, and all the procedures will be completed within a fixed time frame,” the minister added. – TOI