NGOs barred from donating food at premises of Government General Hospital in Guntur

Time of India

18-05-2025

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Guntur: The hospital development society (HDS) of Government General Hospital (GGH) in Guntur has made a decision that has left many in shock. The society has decided not to allow private individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to organize
food donation camps
within the hospital premises, citing sanitation issues as the reason.
This decision has been met with widespread criticism, with many questioning the logic behind it. The HDS has instead decided to collect additional charges from NGOs if they still want to donate food to the poor, including the families of patients. This move is being seen as a deterrent to charity organizations and NGOs that have been providing essential services to the needy.
The GGH provides free food to patients and one attendant, but the reality is that each patient is usually accompanied by at least two to three attendants, most of whom come from far-off places.
These attendants often rely on private canteens or food donation camps for their meals. In the past, charity organizations and NGOs have played a vital role in providing food to these attendants.
One such initiative was the Madhurannam canteen, which was set up by former minister Cherukuvada Rangantha Raju of YSRCP. The canteen provides sumptuous food to around 1,000 to 1,500 people per day. However, despite such initiatives, hundreds of people still wait for charity organizations to visit the GGH and distribute food packets.
The decision to ban charity organizations from entering the hospital has been met with strong opposition. A social activist, K Rajendraprasad, has expressed his outrage, stating that the GGH should deploy additional sanitation workers to keep the food distribution areas clean instead of banning charity organizations.
In a related development, the HDS has also resolved to suspend its request for setting up an Anna canteen in the hospital.
This decision has been met with disappointment, as the Anna canteen would have provided much-needed relief to thousands of poor people.
The contrast between the GGH's decision and the agriculture market yard's initiative to set up a free food canteen is stark. The market yard spends over Rs 50 lakh per year to feed farmers, despite having an Anna canteen nearby. The GGH's decision to prioritize sanitation concerns over the needs of the poor has left many questioning its priorities.