New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Mar 21: In a significant effort to address the longstanding healthcare challenges in Odisha’s mining belt, Keonjhar MP Ananta Nayak met with Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in New Delhi today.

He submitted a memorandum requesting urgent intervention to upgrade the ESI Hospital in Joda to Super Speciality status. In his letter, Nayak emphasised the critical need for advanced medical facilities in the Joda-Barbil region, one of India’s most important iron ore hubs.

“Keonjhar contributes nearly 30% of the country’s iron ore production, with 37 operational mines and over 100,000 people reliant on mining activities. Yet, there is a severe lack of quality healthcare in the region,” he stated.

The MP highlighted the daily medical emergencies stemming from frequent road accidents and occupational hazards in the mining sector. “The nearest major hospital is 90 kilometres away, making emergency medical care inaccessible for many. The ESI Hospital at Joda, intended to serve industrial workers and local residents, is severely understaffed and under-equipped, with only 8 of the 51 sanctioned positions filled,” he wrote.

Nayak appealed to the Union Minister to include the Joda ESI Hospital in the Government of India’s plan to establish 100 Super Speciality Hospitals in industrial areas, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Upgrading the hospital will not only strengthen healthcare infrastructure in this tribal-dominated region but also ensure timely and quality medical care for thousands of workers and residents,” the MP stressed. He requested Dr. Mandaviya’s personal intervention for the welfare of the people of Keonjhar and expressed hope for a positive and swift response.