Budget session: Govt committed to health sector, says CM Saini

Underlining his government’s commitment to the health sector, CM Nayab Singh Saini said the government would look into illegal maternity clinics operational in the state, and any irregularities in the running of the ESI Hospital in Panipat.

The CM gave this assurance in response to questions by Ferozepur Jhirka  MLA Mamman Khan (on illegal maternity clinics in Nuh) and Panipat City MLA Parmod Vij (on cases referred to the private hospital by the ESI Hospital) during the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha here today.

Challenging the reply by Health Minister Aarti Rao that no illegal maternity clinic was operational in Nuh, and no deaths of newborns and mothers had been reported, Khan gave the names of such clinics, and claimed that 35 deaths had been reported so far.

“There are a number of such clinics that have details of qualified doctors on their boards. However, they do not visit the clinics. The reply says that no such complaint has been received. However, in one particular case, a complaint was filed. I am only saying that these clinics should be inspected and the government must ensure that they fulfil the laid down norms,” he said.

Responding to this, Saini said health was a priority area of the government and strict action would be taken against anyone found operating an illegal maternity clinic without a degree and licence. He said the aim of the government was to provide accessible and better healthcare services to people.

Demanding a vigilance inquiry into the diversion of patients from the ESI Hospital to private hospitals in Panipat, Vij said the government must tally the details of the patients and the treatment.

The CM informed the House that more than Rs 34 crore had been allocated to listed private hospitals for treatment over the past five years (from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2024). To this, Vij claimed that four private hospitals alone got Rs 26 crore.

Saini also stated that the Panipat ESI Hospital was currently operating on 8.5 acres, and an additional block would soon be constructed at the facility. The number of industrial workers in Panipat was significant, which made the need for an additional block essential, he said.

Rania MLA Arjun Chautala raised the issue of alarming fluoride and uranium content in the ground water, while seeking to know the names of villages being provided potable water in his constituency. He even sought the report of water samples collected from his Assembly segment, pointing out that the website, which was provided in the government’s reply on samples collected and tested, was “under maintenance”.

Mullana MLA Pooja wanted to know when the government would start disbursing Rs 2,100 per month under the Lado Lakshmi Yojna. While the government maintained that it was under active consideration, Social Justice Minister Krishan Bedi added that the Congress need not worry about the BJP’s commitments. “This is Saini’s guarantee. You don’t have to worry about it,” he said, adding that the Congress should worry about fulfilling its promises in states where its government was in power.

Increase in BPL, Antyodaya cards

The government issued 37,62,893 ration cards under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) scheme, while 54,705 cards were issued under the Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) between April 2022 and September 2024.

In response to an unstarred question by Congress MLA BB Batra, Minister of State Rajesh Nagar, holding the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs portfolio, said the BPL ration cards had increased from 8,82,417 to 46,45,310, while the cards under AAY had increased from 2,44,603 to 2,92,845 in nearly two and a half years.

While 3,322 AAY cards were cancelled in Gurugram, 2,322 were cancelled in Kaithal, and 225 and 594 in Faridabad and Jhajjar, respectively. Other districts saw an increase in AAY beneficiaries.

The minimum numbers added in BPL beneficiaries were from Panchkula (71,810) and Charkhi Dadri (73,699), while the maximum number of beneficiaries were added in Faridabad (3,08,290).

Vinesh Phogat asks maiden question

Olympian wrestler and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat on Tuesday asked her maiden question. She wanted to know if there was any women’s college in the 73 villages of Jullana constituency, and if not, was the government planning to open one.

To this, Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said though there was no college, there was a co-ed college that had vacant seats.

Dhanda and Saini applauded her role in bringing laurels to the nation, and said she should inspire girls to attend college. Vinesh pointed out the reluctance of parents to send their daughters to a co-ed college, and insisted that an all-girls college and developing sports facilities would go a long way in promoting education in her area.