Vijayapura Speaks: Women Lead a Powerful Protest Against PPP Medical College Plan

On Tuesday, the 18th of November, Vijayapura witnessed something extraordinary—not a rally with loud slogans, not a march led by political banners, but a silent, dignified, and deeply symbolic uprising led by the women of the district.

Across 30 to 35 major circles, and simultaneously in all nine taluk headquarters, groups of 20–25 women gathered at each location, kneeling on the ground to draw Rangoli—the traditional art form of celebration. But today, the Rangolis carried messages of resistance and anguish: “Healthcare is our right,” “No PPP,” “Our Medical College Must Belong to the People.”

This unique protest emerged in response to the Karnataka Government’s decision to establish the proposed Vijayapura District Medical College under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. For the people of Vijayapura, this is not just an administrative decision—it is a question of dignity, equality, and survival.

The fear is simple and deeply rooted:
PPP means handing over public wealth and public health to private interests.
It means healthcare access defined by affordability, not need.
It means the poor being priced out of their own district hospital.

The message from the streets could not have been clearer:

“We will not allow our healthcare future to be privatized.”

This protest is also a heartfelt call to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a leader many still believe embodies the spirit of Kannada pride and socialist commitment.
People ask him to listen—not to political voices, but to the voices of ordinary citizens, farmers, workers, students, and especially women who occupied the streets today:

Establish the Medical College as a fully State-run institution.
Reject the PPP model.
Protect what belongs to the people.

What happened in Vijayapura today is not just a protest—it is a reminder that democracy lives only when citizens speak and governments listen.

The movement is growing.
And as the Rangoli patterns fade with the dusk, the message remains etched in the conscience of Karnataka:

Public health cannot be sold.

People’s voices cannot be ignored.

More actions are expected in the coming days. Vijayapura has spoken; now, the government must respond.