LG Jung has ‘almost agreed’ to mohalla clinics in schools: Dy CM

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has “almost agreed” to the Delhi government’s proposal of building mohalla clinics in schools, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday.

Speaking to mediapersons after meeting Jung, Sisodia said that he has conveyed to the Lieutenant Governor the importance these clinics would have in terms of primary healthcare in the national Capital.

Jung had earlier returned a file pertaining to the government’s proposal citing certain clauses of the Delhi School Education Act under which school premises can only be used for academic purposes.

The official cited that the Delhi School Education Act doesn’t allow establishing anything else in school premises. Establishing something else within the school premises could be detrimental to security of students.

“I told him how important these clinics would be for the children of Delhi. There cannot be a better model for providing healthcare.

“Let’s see whether we get the approval or not. He has almost agreed, since he initially thought such facilities would come up in private schools as well which is not the case,” Deputy Chief Minister said.

The AAP government has identified 300 schools where such clinics will be set up, as part of its “three-tier public health roadmap” with the other two being polyclinics and hospitals.

During the meeting, Sisodia also raised the standoff over the appointment of directors in power distribution companies.

Jung had earlier turned down the names of a few power experts and chartered accountants recommended by the government, departing from the practice of nominating higher officials in the administration.

“We told him that the Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries sitting on the board of private companies is not right in principle as they have to take decisions pertaining to these companies later. The issue will be discussed again,” Sisodia said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had urged Jung to invite him and power minister Satyender Jain for a discussion to resolve the issue.

It may be mentioned that the Delhi government had earlier announced 1,000 mohalla clinics would be established by this year’s end but the deadline has been pushed to next year. Mohalla clinics are run by the Delhi government that aim to provide free primary healthcare to all. 

Currently, 106 mohalla clinics are operating in the national Capital, treating almost 2,500 patients everyday.