Raipur
The ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress were at odds over malaria and diarrhoea in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Friday. During the discussion, Minister Kedar Kashyap took a dig at the Opposition, saying, “If the previous government had focused on the health department, we wouldn’t be facing these conditions today.” The Opposition, angered by Kashyap’s remark, walked out of the House. In response to the walkout, BJP members chanted, “Don’t shed crocodile tears.”
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel stated that malaria and diarrhoea are severe in Chhattisgarh, which is why the High Court took suo moto cognizance. In the Ratanpur area, three patients were placed on a single bed. The situation is dire in all districts, but the health minister is still in denial. The health minister claimed that 15 people have died from malaria, but no deaths from diarrhoea have occurred. He acknowledged that the current infrastructure for diarrhoea cannot match the level seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar questioned how many questions can be asked in a single call for attention and whether Bhupesh Baghel alone would continue asking questions. He urged the speaker for a ruling on this matter and suggested that the speaker seemed overly lenient towards Baghel, asking the reason for this leniency.
Leader of the Opposition Dr. Charan Das Mahant asked whether it isn’t true that people are dying from malaria and diarrhoea, which the High Court took cognizance of, and whether it isn’t true that the High Court has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and health officials. The health minister agreed that the High Court had taken cognizance and said they were complying with the court’s directives.
Mahant accused the government of discarding expired medicines worth Rs 12 crore. The health minister corrected him, saying that medicines worth Rs 87 lakh had expired, not Rs 12 crore. He added that the mosquito nets were distributed by the central government. Dissatisfied with the minister’s response, the opposition walked out.
Earlier, BJP MLA Motilal Sahu raised the issue of malaria and diarrhoea outbreaks in several districts. Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal stated that continuous inspections were being conducted in all districts. He mentioned that malaria was under control in the Bastar division and attributed the deaths of two children to their late arrival at the hospital. Mosquito nets were being distributed continuously, and there was a sufficient supply of medicines.
BJP MLA Motilal Sahu claimed that the previous government had not made payments, resulting in a lack of medicine supply. The minister clarified that the supply of medicines was not halted due to non-payment, and adequate supplies of medicines and test kits were provided. The department’s team was reaching remote villages in Bastar by boat for inspections, and more inspections were conducted than during the previous government.
BJP MLA Dharamjeet Singh suggested that instructions be given to senior officials and lower-level employees to ensure timely information about malaria patients reaches the health department. The health minister said that six departments were working in coordination.
Kota MLA Atal Srivastava mentioned that two people had died from malaria in his constituency and requested the minister to set up camps around Belgahna, which had not yet been done. He stressed the need for necessary preparations in the interior areas. The health minister replied that a team had visited the affected area and that 385 patients were admitted around Kota, but no deaths from malaria occurred.
Akaltara MLA Raghvendra Singh stated that the number of dengue and malaria patients had increased in his constituency, with some deaths occurring. He called for adequate hospital arrangements. The health minister responded that no one had died from diarrhoea in Janjgir district, and any shortcomings in the arrangements would be addressed.
Bhilai Nagar MLA Devendra Singh Yadav accused the health minister of providing incorrect information, stating that many people had died from malaria and diarrhoea in Bilaspur, Kawardha, and Bijapur. He demanded improvements in the system. The health minister asked opposition members not to politicize deaths, claiming that dozens of people died from malaria each year during the Congress government, and that the current administration is continuously improving the system.
