Former CM Gehlot writes to CM Bhajanlal expressing deep concern over financial mismanagement, says 'never seen before in history'.
In his letter, Ashok Gehlot emphasized that this problem is not limited to a single department or scheme. It is a widespread crisis affecting almost every section of society.
Employees, pensioners, families of accident victims, hospitals, medicine vendors, and small contractors are running from pillar to post for their rightful payments. Gehlot described it as the worst period of financial mismanagement in the state's history.
This crisis is not just a game of numbers; it is a serious question related to the livelihood and dignity of millions of families. When the government loses the trust of its own employees and service providers, the foundation of the entire system is shaken.
The former Chief Minister has urged the Chief Minister to understand the gravity of the matter and take immediate steps to relieve the people of the state from this unnecessary crisis.
The worst impact of this financial crisis has been on the state's health services. Under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS), payments worth crores of rupees to private hospitals, diagnostic centers, and pharmacies have been pending for months.
The situation has become so dire that many hospitals have warned of limiting cashless services under RGHS or terminating their MOUs with the government.
The direct consequence of this is that employees and pensioners are having to pay out of their own pockets despite the promise of cashless treatment. They are forced to pay in the hope that the hospital will refund them once the government releases the funds.
Gehlot has demanded that the state government should provide written guarantees in such cases to compel hospitals to make repayments, so the burden does not fall on patients.
The situation is no better under the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi/Ayushman Accident Insurance Scheme. Under this scheme, financial assistance of five lakh rupees is provided to the victim's family in case of accidental death.
According to information, in hundreds of cases, families have not received payment for months despite their claims being approved. This shows gross insensitivity towards families who have lost their earning member.
In his letter, Gehlot wrote, "Such a form of financial mismanagement has never been seen before in the history of the state."
The state's retired employees are also falling victim to this mismanagement. Amounts like GPF, group insurance, gratuity, and earned leave (PL), which are their lifetime savings, are not being released even months after retirement.
This money is their right, not a government handout. This delay is causing them immense difficulty in meeting their future plans and needs.
Furthermore, social security pensions have also been pending for months in many districts of the state. This is most affecting the elderly, widows, and disabled pensioners, for whom this pension amount is the sole means of livelihood.
The crisis of non-payment despite bills being passed by the treasury has been ongoing for several months. This is directly impacting projects related to roads, drinking water, and other basic infrastructure, bringing development work to a standstill.
The situation has deteriorated to the point where small contractors are having to place advertisements in newspapers to get their money, raising serious questions about the government's functioning.
Due to this payment crisis, the livelihoods of thousands of workers and small entrepreneurs are in jeopardy. When contractors do not receive payment, how will they pay their laborers and suppliers? It has become a vicious cycle.
The severity of the payment crisis can be gauged from the fact that the State Human Rights Commission had to take suo motu cognizance of the matter. The commission has considered it a violation of human rights, which is a major embarrassment for the government.
This shows how serious the situation is at the ground level and the extent of government apathy.
At the end of his letter, Ashok Gehlot expressed hope that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma would understand the seriousness of the issue. He stated that this is not just a matter of administrative negligence but an issue connected to the lives of millions of people.
He urged the Chief Minister to take necessary decisions in time, so that millions of families in the state can get relief from this unnecessary crisis and people's trust in the government can be restored.
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Pradeep Budawat
