Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in his weekly Sunday samwaad programme said that Chandigarh was among the worst performers in utilitisation of funds released for COVID-19 control for all states and UTs.
The centre had granted Rs 3,000 crore in the first phase to all the states and UT administrations for the pandemic control, and Chandigarh utilised only 47.8 per cent of the allocated.
Maharashtra and Delhi are other two worst performers in funds utilisation – 42.5 percent and 75.4 percent – respectively.
What the Chandigarh Administration has to say?
Giving reasons to the utilisation of funds, UT Adviser Manoj Parida said that due to already existing adequate medical infrastructure in place in the UT, money was not required to be spent on these things.
“States spend money on reimbursing private hospitals, publicity campaigns, setting up temporary hospital, reimbursement to private ambulances and purchase of extra medical eqipment. We did not require those things here since we already have adequate infrastructure,” the UT Adviser said.
Chandigarh Administration Facing Flak
Due to inadequate testing and poor facilities in COVID care centres, Chandigarh is already being criticised. Patients in COVID care centres have complained of unhygienic food and living conditions there. Many videos from post – discharge COVID care centre Sood Dharamshala have been shared on social media by the patients. This has compelled them to order food online or their family members dropping food packets for them. The administration took stern action to fix the lapses after such reports.
What the Chandigarh residents have to say?
Chandigarh residents are of the view that the administration should have used the allocated funds to better conditions in post discharge COVID care centres and testing in the city. Even the administration should continue with the practice of sanitising the areas or localities fron where COVID cases are reported.
Source: The Indian Express
Image Credits: Google Images
