LF seeks withdrawal private practice ban, raises concerns over power tariff hike and law and order

Tripura Left Front on Thursday demanded that the state government review its decision to prohibit private practice by doctors of AGMC and GB Pant Hospital, alleging that the move has adversely affected patients amid shortages of doctors and healthcare infrastructure.
Addressing a press conference at the CPI(M) state headquarters here, senior CPI(M) leader and former minister Manik Dey said the decision had been taken without adequate consultation and at a time when the state's premier government hospital was facing shortages of doctors, healthcare professionals and functional equipment.
"The government should resolve the issue through consultation with all stakeholders. Both doctors and patients should be heard and the decision should be withdrawn," Dey said.
He alleged that the hospital had witnessed a sharp increase in patient load over the past few days, making it difficult for doctors to manage the situation.
According to Dey, patients have been expressing dissatisfaction over healthcare services, and the government should first address infrastructure and manpower deficiencies before enforcing such measures.
He claimed that if the hospital's healthcare delivery had improved sufficiently, patients would have preferred treatment there instead of visiting private clinics.
The Left Front leader said the opposition had been monitoring developments and warned that the government would be accountable if any untoward incident occurred because of the prevailing situation.
Dey also criticised repeated revisions in electricity tariffs, alleging that domestic consumers were being burdened through increases in fixed charges, meter rent and fuel charges.
He said the fixed charge for a one-kilowatt electricity connection had been fixed at Rs 70 and claimed that a household with a three-kilowatt connection now had to pay Rs 210 as a fixed monthly charge apart from energy consumption charges.
He further alleged that changes in tariff slabs and additional charges had increased monthly electricity bills for consumers.
Referring to the financial position of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), Dey claimed that the power utility had outstanding dues of about Rs 2,567 crore from defaulting consumers.
He said consumers who regularly paid their electricity bills should not be made to bear the burden arising from the utility's incompetence to recover outstanding dues.
The CPI(M) leader also questioned the outsourcing of certain power transmission-related activities to private agencies, alleging that additional expenditure incurred on such arrangements was ultimately being passed on to consumers through higher tariffs.
He further claimed that accidents related to power maintenance had increased and alleged that inadequate training of personnel had resulted in fatalities and permanent disabilities in some cases.
Dey demanded that treatment and insurance benefits be extended to affected workers and their families and urged the government to reduce electricity tariffs in the interest of consumers.
The Left Front also expressed concern over the law and order situation in the state, alleging that incidents involving crimes against women, narcotics trafficking and violent crimes had increased.
Referring to the death of a woman staff member of Shantiniketan Medical College, Dey said the victim's family had alleged murder and claimed that the investigation had not been satisfactory.
He also cited the reported rape of a school student and referred to the Kathaltali incident, alleging that internal disputes within the ruling BJP had spilled into the public domain.
Dey further alleged that unidentified bodies were being recovered regularly, crimes against women had increased and drug trafficking continued to affect the state.
He claimed anti-social elements were influencing public affairs in certain areas and alleged that police functioning had also come under such influence.
The Left Front urged the government to address the issues relating to healthcare, electricity tariffs and law and order through appropriate administrative measures.
The Left Front leaders also spoke on a range of issues.