Waiting to see doc at clinic? Read classics

Next time when you wait for your turn to see a doctor at any city clinic,you might not have to watch a film on the TV in the waiting room,instead you can read some classics. This has been made possible by a voluntary organisation,Bhasha,that has taken an innovative initiative to start a book corner in city clinics.

In the first phase,it has provided 25 books each to around 25 clinics and small hospitals in the city. “Bhasha has been carrying out various literature-oriented activities in the city for the past three years. It was basically started with an aim to developing reading habit among children and youth and also to promote literature in regional languages,” said Jaydeep Raje,coordinator of the activity. “ The latest activity of starting a book corner was inaugurated on Teachers’ Day (September 5). The basic theme of the activity is ‘read while you wait’… In any clinic people have to wait for some time till they meet the doctor. We thought if we can provide something fruitful like good books during that time period,people at least can develop reading habit,which is overlooked in today’s world of internet.”

He said,“As a first step,we have started keeping 20 to 25 books in each of the 25 clinics,including paediatric and orthopaedic ones. There are Marathi as well as good English books now available in these clinics. We will be periodically shifting these books from one clinic to the other so that patients can read fresh books every time.”

Dr Sachin Tapasvi,whose orthopaedic clinic has a book corner set up by Bhasha,said the response from patients had been positive. “Generally patients who come without appointment have to wait for over half an hour in the waiting room. Instead of watching the TV or playing games on mobile phone,people do like to read books.”

Raje said Bhasha also had plans to extend this activity to government offices or even to bus stops where people have to wait in queues for a long time. “We have a stock of 700 books with us. However,we will need more books to keep them at offices or bus stops.”