The RSS is always known for its moto of Service Before Self, which drives its volunteers to come forward to lend a helping hand to the country whenever it faces crisis.

The RSS has put to maximum use its huge organisational capacity to provide relief during the raging second wave of Covid pandemic. It has also converted many of its own offices into Covid Care Centres for instance in Bhopal.

A 140 year old British era hospital defunct for over 20 years, located in the Kolar Gold Fields area 100 kms from Bengaluru, has been revived by BJP-RSS volunteers as a Covid Care Centre.

The British era Bharat Gold Mines Hospital was the largest in Asia in the early 20th century housing 800 beds and was the first hospital in the country to have electrical connection and X-Ray facilities. It was established in 1880 by Dr TJ O’Donnell and his brother JD O’Donnell.

As per India Today report, with Covid cases rising in Karnataka’s Kolar district, the BJP Member of Parliament of Kolar, S Muniswamy decided to revive the defunct BGML Hospital as a Covid Care Centre as setting up a new hospital would be more time consuming.

Muniswamy spoke with the Sangh Pariwar and decided to set up a 200 plus bed Covid Care Centre by cleaning up the place. Over 250 BJP and RSS volunteers pitched in to clean up the place which started on April 27th. In about 15 days time, the whole place was cleaned up and Muniswamy says, the place would become operational in about 3 days time.

The biggest challenge for reviving the hospital, was cleaning up the place which had 2-3 inches of mud everywhere in the hospital. RSS Swayamsewak, Praveen S oversaw the whole transformation said, “On day one, when I entered this hospital, you could see bats flying around. There were 2-3 inches of mud everywhere inside the hospital. There were cobwebs everywhere. Many people were sceptical about whether we could do this work. But, the volunteers from RSS, BJP, VHP, Sewa Bharti, Jana Jagran Samiti together decided they could do this. We started this work on April 27 and by May 7 the entire cleaning of this five acre campus was completed.

140 Year Old BGML Hospital Revived By Sangh Pariwar Volunteers (Source: TOI)

Civil and electrical work has been completed and other necessary infrastructure is being put up for it to operate as a Covid Care Centre. Four rooms are being converted in the hospital into ICU facilities. the 140-year old iron beds are in good shape are being put to use after being repainted.

The local people are very happy with the development and are very thankful to the volunteers who worked very hard to get this hospital back in shape. They are urging the central government to convert the BGML Hospital at par with the Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru and continue its functioning as a regular hospital after the pandemic subsides.

This proves the adage, where there is a will there is a way. Kudos to the volunteers of Sangh Pariwar for their selfless noble service to the society!

News input and featured image source: India Today

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