Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Jul 30: The All East Kameng Youth Forum (AEKYF) has urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to address the shortage of specialist doctors, teachers and other essential staff in the district, saying the deficiencies are adversely affecting healthcare and education.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, AEKYF general secretary Raja Khora Neri said the Forum has submitted a representation to the state's Health Minister highlighting the urgent need for strengthening medical services at the District Hospital in Seppa.
He said the hospital requires a child specialist, radiologist, ENT specialist, anaesthesiologist and two ambulances to meet the healthcare needs of the district.
According to Neri, the shortage of specialists has forced many patients, particularly those from economically weaker sections, to face considerable hardship.
The Forum also expressed concern over the shortage of regular teaching staff in government schools. Neri claimed that the district requires 25 Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) and 52 Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs), but currently has only three PGTs and three TGTs.
He alleged that most schools in the district are being run by SSA teachers and that higher secondary schools lack subject-specific teachers. Besides teaching staff, the district also requires four principals, five vice-principals and five headmasters, he added.
Neri said the AEKYF had earlier discussed these issues, along with the demand for a burial ground, with the East Kameng Deputy Commissioner. However, he claimed that no concrete action has been taken so far.
The AEKYF urged the state government to take immediate steps to fill the vacancies and improve healthcare and educational infrastructure in the district.