Jind hospital grapples with monkey menace; 32 plaints to MC, no action

The Civil Hospital in Jind continues to grapple with the monkey menace even as the Swasthya Supervisors Sangh (Health Supervisors Association) has sent 32 reminders to the Jind Municipal Council, urging the authorities to action.

The association stated that despite pursuing the matter for the last four years with the MC authorities, no concrete measures have been taken till now. Frustrated with the lack of response, the association has now brought the issue to the attention of the Deputy Commissioner.

The association reported that monkeys have been attacking hospital staff, patients and visitors. Large groups of monkeys are seen roaming freely on the hospital premises, making it nearly impossible to scare them away. The situation has become so dire that the monkeys are entering offices, damaging property and even injuring patients admitted in the hospital. In several instances, they have destroyed computers and critical hospital records.

Association president Ram Mehar Verma and others today urged the Deputy Commissioner to intervene in the matter and issue directions to the MC authorities for swift action. They demanded that the Municipal Council should launch a special drive to catch monkeys to ensure the safety of doctors, healthcare workers and patients.

Municipal Council Chief Sanitary Inspector Anil Nain, however, said that the council has already captured around 6,000 monkeys. However, he also noted that monkeys caught in the neighbouring districts are released in the Jind area during the night. Recently, individuals releasing monkeys near the Beed forest were caught by the authorities. He, however, said that the MC had issued a contract to the firm responsible for catching monkeys, which had expired now. “Steps are being taken to renew the arrangement,” he said.

However, the hospital staff members said that persistent inaction by the authorities concerned has left hospital staff and visitors feeling unsafe. A swift and comprehensive solution was urgently needed to address the growing threat and restore a secure environment at the Civil Hospital, they said.