CSR of NTPC to the Rescue Where CT Scanner and MRI Machine Lay Defunct for 2 Yrs

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India is bringing good news to patients who have to travel far and wide for their diagnoses. The latest development in this regard comes from the Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh. People in and around Raigarh had to shell out big bucks and run from pillar to post to get a CT Scan or MRI test. However, the good news is that thanks to the CSR of NTPC, a new CT scanner and MRI machine will soon be installed at Raigarh Medical College, where these lay defunct for 2 years.

National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has granted INR 25 crore to Raigarh Medical College, Chhattishgarh for its development. The new medical equipment is part of the CSR of NTPC so that all patients can undergo these otherwise expensive tests for a fraction of the cost.

Old machines in disrepair

Incidentally, the medical college hospital initially provided these facilities, but the old machines have been out of operation for the last 2 years. Rahuldeo Sharma of The CSR Journal spoke to Dr. P.M. Luka, Dean LSLAM Medical College. Dr. Luka said that although they tried to repair the medical equipment on and off, due to unavailability of spare parts, the machines stopped working altogether. The hospital tied up with quite a few MRI centres for conducting specialised tests on the patients, who had to travel to far-off locations for the same. He is relieved that due to the CSR of NTPC, the hospital will soon have high tech equipment for diagnosis and treatment of patients.

CSR of NTPC in Chhattisgarh

It was reported that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard had been signed between NTPC and Government of Chhattisgarh on 27th November 2019. Government Medical College, Raigarh is also known as Late Shri Lakhiram Agrawal Memorial Government Medical College, and is popularly known as GMC Raigarh. It is affiliated to Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Memorial Health Sciences and Ayush University of Chhattisgarh.

NTPC Limited has committed to extend INR 100 crore grant for the development of Government Medical College with a larger objective to strengthen healthcare facilities in the district. The amount from the CSR of NTPC will be utilised for developing infrastructure, equipment and overall upgradation of the medical college.

CSR of SECL in Surguja

Meanwhile, another PSU—SECL (Southern Eastern Coalfields Ltd.)— has installed a model 128-Slice CT Scanner at the Ambikapur Medical College Hospital in Surguja headquarters, Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh. The CT Scan machine was funded by the CSR of Bishrampur area of SECL at a cost of INR 5 Crore. With the installation of the model 128-Slice CT scan machine, the citizens of Surguja now don’t need to go to Raipur or any other big city since the 128 CT scanner will enable doctors to easily diagnose and determine a disease.