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STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: On one hand the State Government including the previous governments of Jammu and Kashmir claimed to have state of the art health facilities in the government owned health institutes of the State and have also bagged as “State of States Award” in Health Sector in 2015 by a private TV group whereas the truth is contrary to these claims.
Several political bigwigs including incumbent and former ministers and legislators have withdrawn millions of rupees from State Government in the name of health care claims and medical reimbursement for themselves as well as for the their family member’s treatment.
Surprisingly even for minor health problems like dental, fatty liver, diabetes and hearing aid these legislators preferred private healthcare institutions outside the state like Gangaram, Apollo, Batra and others instead of availing the treatment in the State and causing loss to state exchequer.
These revelations have been made by RTI activists and Convener Sangarh RTI Movement Balvinder Singh in a press conference, here on Monday.
Balvinder questioned that if state of the art health care facilities are available in the State, as claimed by the State Government and institutions like super-speciality has been established in the Jammu and Srinagar, then why these legislatures are referred by the directors of health in Kashmir and Jammu division for treatment outside the State even for minor ailments and especially in the private elite hospitals and also recommends them air travel along with attendant.
While quoting the rules vide SRO-468, which makes provision for getting medical treatment outside the State only in cases where the same treatment is not available in the State, but the information revealed in the RTI states that in 99 per cent cases, Director Health Services Srinagar/Jammu has even referred the treatment outside the State when it was available in the State and thereby caused huge loss to the State exchequer.
He said at one hand State Government employees even senior bureaucrats are not entitled to get their treatment on government expenses outside the State without approval from Directorate of Health, in case they fall ill during their personal visit.
But these ministers and legislatures have their own set of rules wherein they are entitled for medical claims even while on their personal or family tour outside the State.
Singh cited rule SRO 468 dated 21 July 1986 that entitles these legislatures even for medical tourism and also allows them to take one companion along with.
Under these rules even the dependent family members are entitled for medical reimbursement and medical treatment outside the state at state expenses.
Moreover under these rules, there is also a provision for release of 75% of the accessed expenditure as advance to the ailing MLA/MLC’s or to their family members.
Activist quoted one example of JMC employee who was on a personal visit to Reasi but suddenly fell ill and was advised by the local doctor to immediately go to Narayana Hospital Katra, as it was the nearest one, where he was operated upon to place the stunt for opening up of the blocked artery of heart. But he was denied medical reimbursement on the pretext that he has not obtained the prior approval from the competent authority for getting treatment at private hospital.
Singh said in democratic set up these double standards of our MLAs and MLCs are blot and must be abolished, either the state government employees should also be treated at par with legislatures or the legislature should leave these elitist privileges.
RTI also revealed that one legislator who has also remained finance minister in the state, claimed 80 times for medical bills ranging amount from Rs. 1000 to 58000 and he withdrew a total amount of Rs 7,90,927 from state treasury. This minister was also a member of the last assembly and shockingly own a declared asset of Rs 4.47 crores. Even a serving cabinet minister of the State government having declared assets worth 11.00 Crore did not pay his medical bills from his own pocket and preferred to withdraw a meagre amount of Rs. 2336 from state government.
The RTI reply also reveals that the Aadhar Card which is otherwise being mandatory for availing government subsidies is not required for our ministers and legislators for their salary or any other financial reimbursement from state government.