Udupi: Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri Siddaramaiah was laid foundation for Kusamma Shambu Shetty Haji Adbulla Memorial Maternity and Children Hospital in Udupi by symbolically planted a sapling in the proposed hospital site near Udupi CMC on Sunday, 30th October 2016.

After the sapling of the plant at the hospital site, Chief Minister proceeded towards the Town Hall for the stage programme. The programme started with state Anthem by the school students.

Prior to welcome address, the video clippings of companies, hospitals and other trading of B. R. Shetty around the globe, including the UAE, Pramod Madhwaraj Minister of Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment and also district in-charge minister welcomed the gatherings. During his welcome address Pramod Madhwaraj said that the taluk hospital of Udupi not developed as district hospital since new district came into existence.

The project of the new hospital is completely a government hospital with the project outlay of Rs 150 crore, which will be intention to provide multi special facilities to the poor people. B. R. Shetty has no commercial interest in this project. It will be completely government hospital, he said.

Pramod said that a monitoring committee under the Deputy Commissioner, district health officer, district surgeon and service provider representatives will monitor the progress of the said hospital project. The Old MCH Hospital will be demolished when the new hospital built.

B. R. Shetty is investing the money with good intention of providing better health facilities to the poor. He has no such commercial benefit intention in it which he born and brought up in Udupi only. Due to lack of proper information may be some of the politicians opposing the project.

The chief Minister Siddaramaih, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar, Dr. B. R. Shetty, Pramod Madhwaraj, Ivan D’Souza MLC and chief whip of legislative council and other dignitaries were lighted the lamp during the occasion.

Lady Goshan Hospital, Wenlock Hospital at Mangaluru and the government hospital in Udupi not maintained.

Private hospitals in the state are looting poor with various charges. Mahadeva Hospital in Bangaluru is charging for stunt just for Rs. 60,000 while private hospitals charge more than Rs1.50 lakhs. Where are those who protests who are protesting now, said Ramesh Kumar Health Minister. He gave some of the statistics of spending for health purposes. Under the leadership of chief minister the government providing various facilities and schemes for the poorest of the poor. We never compromise the good things in the life. There is no control of private hospital in the state. There are 53 medical colleges there in the state and around 5,000 graduates coming out with degrees. But nobody will come forward to serve in the government hospitals. The opposition rather see the other reasons in play in politics against Pramod, he said.

Dr. B. R. Shetty said that he was politician in Udupi and served for city council as Vice president. I know this place very well, even though he was away from here. His heart really situated here in Udupi. During my time along with Dr. V. S. Acharya, we did the sanitation and drainage problems in those days. As per the survey in London BRS Venture is one the sixth best in the world rather than US. I do not have any interest in the commercialization of this project. I have shocked to see the condition of the district hospital, which is situated in my birthplace. I thought it is the tragedy of the poor people and I thought it is necessary that we need well specialty hospital and I wrote to the health department of the state. So, I really pay tribute to my parents’ souls. I will construct the hospital for the intention of the welfare of the poor people rather to make the money.
During the occasion memorandum of understanding files exchanged by Dr. B. R. Shetty and Ramesh Kumar.

Addressing the gathering Siddaramiah chief minister said that the problems of the opposition to constructing the hospital in Udupi surely politically motivated. There is no intention of privatization of the hospital. I am against any kind of privatization in the state. The opposition has not able to digest the development of the government.

The government spending around Rs. 1,63,000 crores for development. Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 crores were spent for medical purposes, of the poor people. We have done a lot of schemes for the health of the poor people in the state. The people who oppose the project are lack of correct information or it is for political gain. The state government is for the poor and there is no compromise for that. The 200 bedded hospital is for the poor and there is no doubt about that.

He said some journalists told that some people of the congress are opposing this project, then I said that you ask them that still their identity in the party. I think these politicians not active in the Congress in the past.

At the end of his speech, Siddaramaih greeted the people on the occasion of Diwali. Dr. Sahalini Rajaneesh Chief Secretary of the Health and Family welfare Department of the state, Gopal Bhandary MLA, Abayachandra Jain MLA, Pratapchandra Shetty MLC, Ivan D’Souza MLC, Meenakshi Bannanje President of Udupi CMC and other among dignitaries were present.