KOCHI: Having served the people including scores of children with learning disabilities for 18 years after her retirement from the health service as a clinical psychologist, Dr. R. Jagadambika, a product of NIMHANS, is dejected now as her voluntary work is hampered by bureaucratic-type interference. Dr Jagadambika retired as clinical psychologist from General Hospital Ernakulam in 1994 after 26 years of service.
"Sometime after my retirement, the Aluva Municipality where I reside, as part of People's Planning programme, requested me to submit a project report for serving those who suffer psychological problems. I readily did it," says Dr Jagadambika. The municipality later established a clinical psychology unit at the Aluva taluk headquarters hospital which is today Aluva district hospital, completely independent of the hospital administration. "The Municipality requested my honorary service for the unit which was inaugurated in June 1998," she says.
"Ever since, I have been serving the unit without accepting any remuneration. During this period hundreds of patients, especially from the lower strata of society, came and availed of my services and got relief," she said. However, the psychiatrist now posted at the hospital has made things difficult for both patients and her. She says that the patients cannot go directly to Dr Jagadambika but she would refer them to her if needed.
"She is trying to impose controls over my functioning. There are two other psychologists who render free service. It really goes against the purpose of the unit," Dr Jagadambika says. Her room was shifted without prior notice. "I am now aged 76 and I cannot face this insult," she says. In a letter to the heads of Aluva municipality and district panchayat, Anwar Sadath MLA and superintendent of the hospital she has expressed her inability to continue unless the independence of the unit is protected.
