Initiating the discussion, Raote claimed that the funds received by the state health department at Chandrapur in 2003-03 and 2003-04 were not utilised to provide medicines and were diverted for some other work. "An enquiry too was conducted by then official Sanjeev Jaiswal (now Nagpur Municipal Corporation commissioner), but no action was taken against any official," he said.
Joining him, MLC Shobhatai Fadnavis also slammed the government for giving step-motherly treatment to Vidarbha. "All the funds meant for this region are diverted away. We know what we're suffering, you can't understand our plight," she said.
Minster of state for public health and family welfare Fauzia Khan failed to give satisfactory replies, which enraged the opposition benches, who demanded immediate reply from her. They also insisted on action against erring officials who fail to utilise funds and divert them. The members charged Khan with misleading the house and demanded an enquiry into the irregularities.
It was only after cabinet minister Suresh Shetty arrived that members calmed down. He informed the house that in 2002-03, Rs 27 lakh were sanctioned for speedy construction of primary health centres in remote Naxal-infested areas, and also for distributing medicines. However, the funds could not be utilised in the construction and Rs 10 lakh were used to purchase medicines by the Chandrapur health officer. Remaining amount was spent on purchasing medicines for other areas in the district, which were not affected by Naxal violence.
The minister refuted the opposition charge that the funds for Naxal-hit areas were diverted. "All files were checked and no irregularities were found. The district health officer (DHO) should have taken permission from the collector for purchasing medicines, which was not happened. We will take action against the officer," he assured the house.
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