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A futile wait for health cards

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 24 . Residents of Kalapet on the East Coast road in Lawspet Assembly segment who came to a function today where the Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, launched the `individual health cards' scheme were left disappointed when their names were not called despite a five-hour wait.

The villagers who had come and occupied seats since around 9 a.m. at the Primary Health Centre told newsmen they thought they would be issued the cards. In fact, they had come only because they had been invited to do so. Alleging that those who were issued cards were from outside Kalapet, some villagers rushed to the stage to place their grievances before the Chief Minister, the Health Minster, E. Valsaraj, the local Congress legislator, M.O.H.F. Shah Jahan and the Congress Pradesh committee president V. Narayanasamy MP.

The cards could not be distributed to the locals today as some modifications had to be made, an official said. Health Department officials explained it away saying it was only a symbolic launch.

But the fact is that a release distributed to media announced that Kalapet was heading the scheme and that the health cards would benefit 17,000 residents.

The villagers were pacified only after getting assurances from the Chief Minister and the Health Minster that no one would be left out.

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