Malda villagers protest transfer of their beloved ‘Daktarbabu’

MALDA: In a rare display of public affection, hundreds of villagers living in the vicinity of Golapgunj primary health centre in Kaliachak here took to the streets on Thursday following a government transfer order for their beloved ‘Daktarbabu’.
Dr Manoranjan Biswas has been treating patients at the PHC for 30 years, and is immensely popular for his sincerity and integrity. He is known to have often gone out of his way to attend to patients who were unable to make it to the health centre.His pure altruism even earned him a special honour from the state government a few years ago.
No wonder that his unexpected transfer order on Wednesday whipped up public sentiments like never before in this part of the district. The good doctor tried in vain to reason with overwhelmed residents who decided to register their protest on Thursday.
“Daktarbabu has been here for a long time. All of us trust him with our lives. He is a godsend for the poor,” said Ismail Sheikh. “We cannot allow his transfer and are ready to launch a hunger strike to stall the order,” piped in Mantu Mandal.
Protests notwithstanding, the state health department is unlikely to roll back the transfer. Both touched and embarrassed at the same time, Dr Biswas said: “I am a government employee and have to follow orders.” While he managed to convince villagers to end their agitation for now, it will be no surprise if protests resume once he leaves Golapgunj.