Houses of residents who skipped the pulse polio programme in Belwaganj. Picture by Mohan Mahato

Darbhanga, May 30: In an unusual scene of protest, a few residents of Belwaganj near Light House Picture Palace preferred not to administer their children polio drops to protest against government apathy.

About 15 families were demanding construction of a water channel before their children could be given polio drops.

Polio drops were being administered at the doorstep aiming a cent per cent immunisation in the country. The denial of the 15 families in phases from May 22 to 30 could cast a shadow over polio immunisation programme of the Union government.

Lakhendra Prasad, civil surgeon, Darbhanga said: “All efforts to administer polio drops to the children of these households proved futile because their demand was not met. The construction of inland water canal does not fall under my jurisdiction and this issue would be discussed with the district magistrate in post-polio review meet on May 31.”

Lakhendra added he had to face such problems in a few households who demanded road construction, help from anganwadi for their children, and only then they would allow polio drops to their children.

Urmila Devi, one of residents of Belwaganj, said: “My children fall in the unconstructed channel. A huge nala has been dug but it was never finished. The government is showing sympathy by administering polio drops. This is not justice for my children. They are bearing the brunt of the construction company, which has dug up the drain and never turn up to finish it.”

Suraj Nayak, the medical superintendent of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital said: “Once the chain of administering polio drops breaks, it would have a negative impact on the children. Such hindrance in giving polio drops to children could cast a shadow on the immunisation programme targeting to eradicate polio from India.”

District magistrate and collector, R. Lakshamanan told The Telegraph: “I have not been informed about the incident. The incident has been brought to my notice by The Telegraph and I would definitely conduct a review meeting with the civil surgeon over the polio programme and try to know the problems that the families are undergoing.”

He added if he finds the problems genuine, they would be sorted out soon. “If required, polio drops would be administered to the 12 children, whose families had declined the drops, before the next phase scheduled in June,” he said.