Almora: The transfer of a large number of doctors from the Health Department in Almora district triggered a strong protest by the District Congress Committee on Wednesday. Congress workers staged a demonstration against the Uttarakhand government and symbolically burned the effigies of the Chief Minister and the Health Minister, alleging that the move would severely affect healthcare services in the hill district.
Leading the protest, District Congress President Bhupendra Singh Bhoj said Almora was already facing a shortage of doctors, and the recent transfers would further weaken medical services in district hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres. He claimed that people living in remote and rural areas would be the worst affected.
Congress leaders accused the state government of ignoring the healthcare needs of the hill districts and alleged that the decision would adversely impact access to quality medical treatment. They demanded that the government immediately review the transfer orders and strengthen healthcare infrastructure instead of reducing the availability of doctors.
During the protest, Congress workers raised slogans against the government and demanded better healthcare facilities for the people of the region. A brief confrontation occurred when the police allegedly attempted to seize the effigies before they were burned. Congress leaders criticized the move, stating that peaceful protest is a constitutional and democratic right.
The party warned that if the government failed to reconsider the transfers and take concrete steps to improve healthcare services, it would intensify its agitation across the district.
Several senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, women leaders, youth activists, and hundreds of party workers participated in the demonstration, reiterating their demand for adequate medical staff in Almora and other hill districts.
