Tribal Protests Erupt Against Privatization of Civil Hospitals in Tapi and Dang Districts

Surat : The tribal communities residing in the Tapi and Dang districts of Gujarat have voiced their strong opposition to the privatization of civil hospitals, jointly spearheaded by the influential Torrent Group and the State Government. A significant number of adivasi people hailing from remote villages in Dang converged at the district collector’s office in Ahwa to voice their vehement protest against the State Government’s decision to hand over the civil hospital in Ahwa to the Torrent Group.

The Torrent Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Ahmedabad, has been a prominent player in various sectors, including gas, pharmaceuticals, and power. The conglomerate, founded by Uttambhai Nathalal Mehta and currently led by his sons Sudhir and Samir Mehta, has recently ventured into City Gas Distribution across multiple regions in India.

Under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the State Government has chosen to allocate civil hospitals to the Torrent Group. The tribal communities are deeply concerned about this arrangement, citing Torrent Group’s significant presence in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in research and development. They fear that impoverished adivasi individuals from remote villages may be lured into participating in medical experiments involving injections and new medications developed by the Torrent company in exchange for financial compensation.

Moreover, adivasi patients are apprehensive about facing substantial charges for medical services at the Dang hospital, services they have been receiving free-of-cost thus far. The privatization move has generated considerable discontent among the tribal population, who rely on these hospitals for their healthcare needs.

The Dang District Congress Committee has also joined the chorus of protests, expressing their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to privatize the Civil Hospital Ahwa. In conjunction with MLA Anant Patel from Vansda, the committee submitted a petition to the District Collector, urging the authorities not to privatize the hospital.

This protest follows a recent demonstration against the privatization of a government hospital in the adjacent Tapi district. The residents of Dang, predominantly comprising a tribal population of 96%, are particularly concerned about the implications of privatizing the only civil government hospital in the district, situated in Ahwa. This hospital currently serves the healthcare needs of the tribal community across 311 villages, as well as other communities.

Mukesh Patel, a tribal community leader in Dang, condemned the decision as “anti-tribal” and revealed that the State Government has already handed over approximately six government hospitals in Gujarat to the Torrent Group. In response to these developments, a massive rally has been planned in Dang to mobilize against the encroachment of private entities into essential healthcare services. The tribal communities are resolute in their determination to protect their healthcare access and preserve their rights in the face of privatization pressures.