50-bed 'dharmashala' inaugurated

PATNA: A dharmashala (rest house) constructed by Mahavir Cancer Sansthan was inaugurated by Nizamuddin Saheb of Imarat Shariya on Wednesday. In his inaugural address, Nizamuddin lauded the efforts made by the Sansthan for providing medical facilities to cancer patients not only of the state, but also of adjoining states. Speaking on the occasion, administrator, Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts, Kishore Kunal said besides the Sansthan, Mahavir Temple Trust was also running several welfare hospitals and institutions which included Mahavir Arogya Sansthan and Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital. He said the Trust was also planning to start construction of Jeevan Jyoti Kendra at Hajipur soon. RJD MLA from Phulwarisharif Shyam Rajak lauded the activities of the Sansthan and said poor patients had benefited the most from this hospital. Earlier, welcoming the guests, Sansthan director Dr Jitendra Kumar Singh said at present, as many as 72,000 patients were receiving treatment at the hospital while about 500 to 600 new patients visit the hospital every day. The hospital has the facility of only 300 indoor beds, he said, adding that the dharmashala at present has the facility to accommodate 50 patients and 25 out of them would get free treatment. Patients paying Rs 30 would get a room with all the facilities, he said and added that 25 more rooms would be completed by September. The dharmashala would have the capacity to accommodate 100 patients. BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha has donated Rs 25 lakh from his MP quota and soon another dharmashala having a capacity of 100 beds would be constructed, Dr Singh said.