Shimla, Apr 21 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Himcare scheme launched during the previous BJP government, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday.
Addressing a public gathering at Jakhbar in Fatehpur assembly constituency of Kangra district, Sukhu took a dig at the BJP over the health insurance scheme, alleging that claims had even been made for “ovarian surgeries on men”.
During the budget session last month, too, the CM told the House that an internal audit found irregularities in the scheme, including bills for ovarian surgeries on men and implanting expired lenses.
The Himcare scheme provides free cashless coverage for treatments of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to families not covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana of the Union government. The scheme was started by the previous BJP government.
Sukhu alleged that when the BJP was in power, the state government received around Rs 60,000 crore more compared to his government but it misused public funds.
Quality of education declined during the BJP tenure, with Himachal Pradesh falling to 21st position in 2021. In contrast, the Congress government has made significant improvements in the education sector and the state has now reached the 5th position in providing quality education in the country, Sukhu claimed.
He said English-medium education has been introduced from class 1 and 151 schools have been made CBSE-affiliated. By June 30, teacher recruitment in all these schools will be completed, for which state-level examinations are being conducted, he said.
The CM announced Rs 10 crore for the construction of an industrial area in the Fatehpur assembly constituency of Kangra district. He said that the office of the chief engineer of the Shah Canal project, which was earlier shifted from Fatehpur to Mandi, will now be re-established in Fatehpur.
Sukhu also announced financial assistance of Rs 20,000 each to Mahila Mandals of the area and Rs 50 lakh for the renovation of Wazir Ram Singh Stadium.
Keeping in view the problems of Pong Dam displaced families, land has been provided to them on lease, he said.
Sukhu said that a Below Poverty Line (BPL) survey is ongoing to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach even the poorest. More than 1 lakh extremely poor families have been identified in six phases and the seventh phase is nearing completion, he added.
The chief minister said the Apna Parivar-Sukhi Parivar Yojana has also been launched, under which eligible women will receive a pension of Rs 1,500 per month and up to 300 units of free electricity.
Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board and local MLA Bhavani Singh Pathania highlighted the rapid progress in the construction of a bus stand, a civil judge court and model health institution buildings. A mini secretariat has been inaugurated in the area, he said. PTI BPL SKY SKY
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