Mithila students collect bricks for building AIIMS Darbhanga after 6 yrs of govt inaction

Frustrated with Nitish Kumar government's inaction over constructing an AIIMS hospital in Bihar's Darbhanga district, Mithila Student Union (MSU) has decided to take matters into ir own hands. Since August 1, 2021, thousands of volunteers from MSU have visited eight districts across Darbhanga to collect bricks for proposed hospital and plan to perform a 'shilanyas' (stone-laying ceremony) at government site on September 8 in presence of 5000 locals. Union government h approved Darbhanga AIIMS project in September 2020 for a cost of Rs 1264 crores.

MSU collect bricks to construct AIIMS at Darbhanga

Speaking to Republicworld, MSU General Secretary itya Mohan Jha said, "In 2015, Centre h asked Bihar government to allocate 200-acre land for proposed AIIMS hospital. Between 2015 and 2018, Centre h written to Bihar govt regarding land allocation but state government did not do so. Later, when Centre threatened to cancel project, in a hurry, Bihar government suggested converting existing GMCH into an AIIMS. But till date, inspite of promising an AIIMS at Darbhanga in Lok Sabha elections and Bihar Assembly elections, no work has started - no even land levelling".

Comparing it to or AIIMS projects, Jha pointed out that AIIMS hospitals have been me functional in Gorakhpur, Rajkot, Guwahati, Nagpur, but not even foundation has been laid at Darbhanga. Talking about MSU campaign for Darbhanga AIIMS, he ded, "We have not me this campaign on party lines. If government does not do it, public will do it. As of date, thousands of our student volunteers are spre across eight districts in Darbhanga and have collected 10,000 bricks from houses in se villages. We plan to perform 'shilanyas' on September 8 at Darbhanga AIIMS site in presence of 5000 people".

In a bid to grab attention of authorities and citizens across country, MSU has been trending #DarbhangaAIIMS on Twitter, sharing photos of student volunteers visiting houses and collecting bricks. "People who cannot be re at Shilanyas are also sending us bricks, as awareness of our campaign spres," said Jha. MSU is also organising door-to-door awareness campaigns, cycle rallies apart from brick collection in nearby villages to fulfill ir aim to get an AIIMS hospital at Darbhanga.

Talking about failing health system in Bihar, Jha said, "90% of primary health care centres are closed in Bihar with most of m used to store fodder. On a pilot basis, we h organised a social media campaign called '#AphcChalukaro' to reopen such shut PHCs. This led to opening of PHCs in Bangaon, which has largest population in a Bihar district and is now functional. This was needed amid COVID."

Apart from local health issues, MSU is also involved in campaigning for an airport in Purnea, which has been announced in 2015. Using #PurneaAirportLA, MSU has been questioning Centre as to why land acquisition for Purnea Airport has been pending for six years. Darbhanga got its own airport in 2020, two years after it was inaugurated. MSU has also demanded that Nitish government announce a one-time Rs 1 lakh crore package for flood-hit North Bihar to strengn bridges, buildings etc.