Central aid of Rs 75 cr lost due to govt's adamance: Oppn

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 4 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy today alleged that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government due to its 'adamant' attitude had lost Rs 75 crore last year, due to the state towards Health Insurance Scheme from the Centre.

Talking to newspersons after ending his 24-hour fast in front of the State Secretariat here to protest the government's 'failure,' in checking viral fever he said if the government did not take effective measures it would lose this year's subsidy also from the Centre.

Stating that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would never allow this amount to be lapsed, he said it would unleash a series of agitations, including an indefinite fast, against the government's 'failure' in the health sector.

The Scheme was initiated by the previous UDF Government, but the LDF decided to discontinue it alleging that private players were involved in the scheme. Though the LDF Government stated that it would come up with alternative scheme for the BPL people, it was yet to be implemented.

On the proposed dharna in front of Parliament on August 20 by a delegation, comprising the Chief Minister, MPs and leaders of the constituent parties of the LDF he said it was nothing but to ''cover up its administrative inefficiency,'' and added ''it was ridiculous'' as the Centre in its new guidelines had increased the compensation to monsoon victims from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh.

The government had no moral right to organise an agitation in front of the Prime Minister's residence against the neglect of the state by the Centre, as it was lapsing all funds which the state had to receive, he said.

Mr Chandy said that though the state had received funds from the National Calamity Contingency Fund, the government had failed to utilise it for the relief works, he charged and said if the state had utilised the whole fund, more funds could have come from the Centre.

Though the government had completed 14 months, it could not implement the Health Insurance Scheme, he said adding that there was no hurdles before the government to implement it and what it required was a sense to help the poor people.

UNI