Sambalpur, June 7: The demand for a 50-bed hospital for the bidi workers of the district is yet to be fulfilled.

The bidi workers have been demanding for a hospital since 1998.

“We have been demanding for a hospital since 1998, but, so far, the government has not responded to this demand,” said Mitrabhanu Podh, general secretary of Sambalpur District Bidi Shramik Union.

In 2002, advisory committee of the state labour department sent a proposal to the central government for a 50-bed hospital and five more dispensaries in Sambalpur. In turn, the Union labour ministry had asked the state government to identify a suitable land for the proposed hospital, said the trade union leader.

Twenty acres were identified in Rengali block of Sambalpur district and a detailed proposal was sent to the central government last year. “But, the demand has not yet been met as the finance ministry has not cleared the proposal,” said Podh.

“Bengal has three hospitals for bidi workers. Karnataka has two. But Orissa is still neglected,” said the trade union leader.

As per norms, there should be one dispensary for every 5,000 bidi workers. In Sambalpur, there are more than 2,00,000 bidi workers.

Around 1,20,000 of them have identity cards. However, still there were only three dispensaries in the district, he said.

President of the undivided Sambalpur district Bidi Karigar Sangathan Bijoy Kumar Mohanty said: “Due to lack of political will, the 50-bed hospital for the bidi workers is yet to be materialised. Though hospital for the bidi workers has been established in various states, Sambalpur district continues to be ignored by the government.”

However, Rengali tehsildar Lambodar Dharua said: “We have already identified twenty acres in Rengali. Now, it is responsibility of the concerned department to initiate the process for setting up the hospital.”