Jogi slams govt for misuse of smart cards, RTE violation

Raipur, July, 10, 2012


Senior Congress legislator Ajit Jogi has flayed the government for misuse of smart cards and violation of Right to Education (RTE) in private schools.

“Smart card is meant to provide medical aid to the poor. The Centre provides Rs 30000 to the beneficiary under smart card scheme so that he can undergo treatment in the hospital. But the doctors are deceiving the poor and withdrawing fees through the smart cards,” he said.

“A probe report reveals that in last six months 1463 women underwent surgery in 31 private hospitals in Bilaspur district under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), but 741 complained that the doctors had removed their uterus without their knowledge and permission. The doctors did this criminal and unethical act to make fast bucks through smart cards,” he added.

Jogi said that the benefit of the smart cards was not reaching to the eligible people because the government lacked alertness.

He alleged that none of the Centrally-sponsored health schemes had been effectively implemented in the rural pockets of the state.

He said the government should ask CBI to inquire into the uterus removal cases and blacklist the doctors involved in such wrongdoings.

Similarly, he said, the private schools were openly flouting RTE norms by not making provision of 25 percent quota for children hailing from financially weaker section of the society.

“It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the poor children get admission in private schools. There are 3000 private schools in the state and according to RTE about 75000 poor children should get admission in these institutions. However, only 9000 poor children have been admitted in private schools so far,” he pointed.

“These private schools are charging huge fees and donations but the government is not taking action against them. This is happening because there is nexus between schools owners and the government,” he alleged.