Mizoram may hand over referral hospital to church

Aizawl, May 23: The Mizoram government may hand over the yet-to-be-completed Falkawn Referral Hospital to the Catholic Church, sources said here today.

Opposition parties here have been alleging that the MNF government had misappropriated funds for the hospital, initiated by the Congress ministry, resulting into incompletion even after 15 years of its initiation.

On asked about the development of the project, Father Augustine CL Biaksanga, public relations officer of Aizawl Diocese of Catholic Church, said that work has already been initiated.

He added that they were looking into the possibilities and feasibilities of it.

According to sources, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had disclosed this intention to hand over the hospital at a meeting of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (Mizoram church leaders' forum) last Thursday.

After having been informed of the news, spokesperson of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) Father Babu, who was attending a seminar at Guwahati, had also come to Aizawl.

Along with local Catholic Church leaders, the priest visited the hospital on Sunday.

Sources said the Catholic Church had been approached by the Mizoram government earlier and made the offer. So, to Father Babu, who had met the Union health ministry officials in this regard, the development is not something new as it is to his fellow Catholic Church leaders in Aizawl.

The Catholic Church is running several hospitals and institutions in India, among which is the popular St John's Medical College in Bangalore, one of the leading medical colleges in the country, under the management of CBCI. The Falkawn Referral Hospital may be looked after by Aizawl Diocess.

UNI