Govt, L-G office lock horns over health scheme
Responding to Mr Jain's allegations, the L-G's office said that Baijal had not imposed any condition of requirement of income certificate.
NEW DELHI: Widening the ongoing rift with lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain claimed that the L-G has raised objections to the AAP dispensation’s ambitious scheme proposing free medical surgeries and tests at private hospitals in case of delay in government facilities.
According to Mr Jain, Mr Baijal raised objections without discussi-ng either with the chief minister or the minister concerned, and has asked the department to include income criteria for people to avail benefits under the “quality health for all” scheme. The scheme was passed on December 12 and was subsequently sent to the L-G for approval.
CM Arvind Kejriwal said that if the income criteria was introduced, it would practically “kill” the scheme.
Refuting the charges, the L-G’s office said that he had not asked it to seek income certificates from those availing benefits under the scheme, and noted that the AAP dispensation was free to choose an appropriate income level that does not exclude the middle class and the poor from the scheme.
Addressing a press conference here, Jain said the introduction of an income criteria will make implementation of this scheme “extre-mely cumbersome” as verification of patients’ incomes would increase paper work.
“The L-G raised objections without discussing either with the CM or the minister concerned, and has asked the department to include income criteria for people to avail benefits under the quality health for all scheme,” Mr Jain said.
Responding to Mr Jain’s allegations, the L-G’s office said that Mr Baijal had not imposed any condition of requirement of income certificate.