I am a resident of Geeta Colony in East Delhi and I am deeply concerned by the unavailability of a government super speciality hospital in the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.

Last year I contracted typhoid, which led to some serious complications for which I required specialised care. Unfortunately, the closest Government facility was more than 15 kilometers away at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. More recently, my friend's mother suffered a major heart attack and again the family had to travel a couple of hours in Delhi's traffic to take her to the hospital. 

I am extremely distressed because the lack of a super speciality hospital in our area is not for want of resources or land, but for lack of will. Delhi's Master Plan has a vacant plot of land near the Chacha Nehru Hospital, earmarked for building a healthcare facility. The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has repeatedly requested the land be allocated for a super speciality hospital for Geeta Colony and the entire neighbourhood. However, the Delhi Development Authority, controlled by the Central government through Delhi's Lt-Governor Anil Baijal has so far refused to do so. 

The East Delhi MP is a de facto member of the DDA and we had hoped he would influence the government positively. Since that hasn't happened, I look to Atishi, the Aam Aadmi Party candidate for East Delhi Lok Sabha to push the DDA; both, as a candidate who wants to represent us and if she wins, as our MP. As a member of the DDA, Atishi will be in a position to influence the process of allocation of land for a hospital. 

My family and countless other families of East Delhi go through some anxious moments whenever a loved one is in need of specialised healthcare. Our lives would be a lot easier if there were a super speciality hospital in Geeta Colony. 

I urge the Lt-Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, who is the Chairperson of DDA to hear a concerned citizen's voice and hope that Atishi shall take this issue up as a campaign promise to her voters.