TV
In a heart-wrenching scene at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Odisha’s Balasore, dozens of persons with disabilities were seen spending the entire night on hospital verandahs and corridors to secure their place in line for disability certification, ahead of the scheduled Divyang Mela on Wednesday.
Individuals from various blocks across the district began arriving on the hospital premises as early as Tuesday evening. With no official arrangements for overnight stay, many sat or lay down on cold floors, braving mosquito bites and discomfort through the night. Some were even seen sleeping in corners of the hospital verandah, hoping to be among the first to be attended the next morning.
According to reports, the rush was due to previous experiences where many applicants were unable to complete the certification process due to overcrowding during the day. Determined not to return empty-handed this time, applicants and their families camped overnight in the hope of early registration.
OTV Takes Stock
OTV visited the hospital late Tuesday night to take stock of the situation and found long queues of divyang individuals and their family members, many of whom had brought mats and sheets to rest on the ground.
Applicants Voice Concerns
Applicants voiced concerns over the lack of crowd management and basic facilities for those with mobility issues. Several urged the administration to decentralize the certification process through block-level camps or a scheduled appointment system to reduce such distress.
“I came to the hospital around 8 PM. With over a thousand applicants turning up, it’s nearly impossible to get a slot during the day. That’s why I’ve come early and lined up here overnight,” said a differently-abled applicant.
Sharing a similar experience, another person from Bhograi block said, “I reached here at 6 PM and have been waiting in hunger just to get a certificate. I’ve had to return empty-handed multiple times before.”
No comments from the hospital authority or concerned officials could be obtained on the matter.
