Ktk govt not pro-active in implementing Central plans: Kharge

Bangalore, Feb 4 (PTI) Union Labour and EmploymentMinister Mallikarjun Kharge today rapped Karnataka Governmentfor not being "pro-active" in implementing centrally sponsoredschemes, especially the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.

Karnataka lagged behind Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh,Kerala in implementing RSBY programme envisaged for healthcare of poor, he alleged.

Kharge said 2.30 crore smart cards and 6.50 crore BPLsmart cards had been issued under RSBY under which the poorcould purchase medicines worth Rs 30,000 annually.

"We are ready to provide the funds, give facilities butit is the state government which has to come forward with amatching grant and provide land needed to createinfrastructure like building of ESI Hospitals," he said.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for aNursing College and an Auditorium being built by EmployeesState Insurance Corporation (ESIC) here.

"Instead of saying that he is a victim of black magicand his life is under threat, he must channelise energies toensure utilisation of central assistance" Kharge said taking adig at Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Yeddyurappa had claimed there was a conspiracy toeliminate him by taking recourse to "black magic" afterefforts to use it to unseat him from power failed.

Kharge also asked the government to fill the vacanciesfor doctors and nurses in ESI Hospitals.

He said generally the state budget is always presentedafter the central budget "but in this case now Chief MinisterB S Yeddyurappa seems to be in a hurry and must be having hisown reason in deciding to table the budget prior to theCentral budget".

State Labour Minister B N Bachchegowda said there were188 vacancies for doctors in ESI hospitals in the state outof which 95 posts would be filled through the state publicservice commission.

He appealed to Kharge to ensure that nurses trained inthe ESI Nursing Training Colleges were absorbed in ESIhospitals.