‘BJP’s policy is to attack, demoralise honest people’

The continuos tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre is not new. It is also not new that the BJP has a policy of constant undue interference in matters of states governed by non-BJP governments. Some see the fate like that of Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh while some have strong governments like Delhi which takes all the attack on itself and lets very little trickle down to the citizens. Believers in “Whatever happens, the show must go on”, the Delhi government grits its teeth against such unprecedented provocations from the Centre and does not let governance get affected much. 

In an exclusive interview to Godhuli Barat and Padma Rigzin, Delhi’s Health minister Satyendar Jain, who holds several other important portfolio, tells us how the Delhi government dodges everything and spearheads the mission of a better future for the people of Delhi. 

Excerpts:

A: It is an unnecessary controversy. The BJP is targeting the Mohalla Clinics. Soumya is a qualified architect and she was doing her duty as a volunteer free of cost. She secured IIM Indore admission but she preferred to serve the people of Delhi. But it is difficult to understand what the BJP wants. They target the AAP government for no reason. The public knows what exactly the Oppositions are doing.

A: Basically, UHS is an insurance scheme in which we are trying to cover every ‘Dilliwala’. The scheme has two parts — one, for the poor people, the premium for which will be 

paid by the government; and the second one is for the middle and upper classes for which a nominal premium will be charged. Apart from this, we are contemplating to make accidents insurance-free for all, including for the upper class. The reason is that private hospitals do not admit accident victims because of the fear that the hospitals would not get paid. With the rolling out of this plan, the private hospitals would not be hesitant in admitting accident victims.

A: Very soon. Earlier, ambulances used to cater to only accident cases but now the ambulances will serve to any emergency case.  In addition to this, a mobile application called 102  through which the ambulances can be called during emergency situation is being launched.

A: Hospitals under the Delhi government are disabled-friendly. But since you have raised this issue, I will definitely look into the matter. 

A: It takes years to make a doctor and these precious resources are not used properly. The most important thing is that a person should be provided with proper services same as in emergency cases. We are increasing the number of doctors in the hospitals.

A: Firstly, we are coordinating with the Municipal Corporations to take preventive steps. Secondly, last year we opened 55 fever and dengue clinics and this year we are planning to increase that number to 250. These 250 clinics will reduce the load on hospitals, as last year even people with fever were admitted on the assumption that it was dengue. This year, the proposed clinics will diagnose fever and dengue at the primary level. In a nutshell, public health system in being readied and I hope that people will not have to knock doors at private hospitals this year.

A: It will not be financially viable for us to keep Mohalla Clinics open 24x7. Mohalla Clinics will be opened for four to six hours as it is not easy for any government to open 1,000 hospitals. Mohalla Clinic is the primary level of treatment for anyone who is suffering from minor ailments.

A: We are focusing on encouraging people to ride buses and for this, punctuality has to be focussed on. Lack of reliability pushes people to shift to private means of transportation. I have noticed that DTC buses are not running on full capacity on certain routes.  So we are studying bus routes so that we can put more buses on routes where the demand is more. Moreover, plan is afoot to procure more buses to increase our fleet strength.

A: Monsoon is the time of the year when pollution level at its lowest particularly in the month of July. This month has the cleanest air. So right now, I don’t think we need a car-free day. As far as odd-even is concerned, public response will decide but the BJP-led MCD foiled the success of the car rationing scheme by burning waste all over Delhi.

A: It is in the nature of BJP to interfere in the functioning of state governments. The Supreme Court order on Arunchal Pradesh pointed out the foulplay of BJP’s Governor there. In Delhi, BJP is harassing bureaucrats by creating fearful atmosphere and are trying to demoralise honest 

officers of the Delhi government. For example, the Anti Corruption Bureau raided Public 

Works Department and Transport Department offices to probe an alleged misappropriation of Rs 15 crore in dismantling the Bus Rapid Transit Corridor.  The tender of BRT was of RS 3.9 crore then how come the alleged corruption can be of Rs 15 crore.

A: The way the CBI is treating the case it seems that this is the biggest case in CBI’s history. They are making it looks bigger than the 2G or Coalgate scams. More than 1,000 people were questioned and 20,000 papers collected but till now no wrongdoing has been proven.