Former CM Ashok Gehlot wrote an 'urgent' letter to CM Bhajanlal Sharma regarding the collapse of the state's payment system.
Payments for schemes like RGHS, Chiranjeevi Accident Insurance, and social security pensions have been stuck for months.
The State Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognizance, terming the situation a human rights violation.
Construction projects have stalled, forcing small contractors to place newspaper ads to draw the government's attention.
Jaipur | Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed deep concern over the serious situation arising from the collapse of the government payment system in the state. He has written an 'urgent' letter to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, drawing immediate attention to the prevailing financial crisis and administrative apathy.
Gehlot's Concern Over Severe Financial Crisis
In his letter, Mr. Gehlot clarified that this problem is not limited to a single department or scheme. He stated that every section of society, including employees, pensioners, hospitals, medicine vendors, and small contractors, is struggling to receive their rightful payments.
He described the situation as an unprecedented and alarming case of financial mismanagement in the state's history. Gehlot urged the Chief Minister to take swift and decisive action to relieve the people of the state from this unnecessary crisis.
"Such a form of financial mismanagement has never been seen before in the history of the state."
Biggest Impact on Health Schemes
The letter places special emphasis on the dire state of the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS). Under this scheme, payments worth crores of rupees to private hospitals, diagnostic centers, and medicine vendors have been pending for several months.
Taking note of this critical situation, the State Human Rights Commission had to intervene. The commission took suo motu cognizance, considering it a violation of human rights.
Due to non-payment, many major hospitals have warned of limiting services under the scheme or even terminating their MOUs with the government.
This is directly affecting patients. Even in this scheme that claims to provide cashless treatment, employees and pensioners are being forced to pay for their treatment out of their own pockets first.
The situation of the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi/Ayushman Accident Insurance Scheme is equally worrying. Under this scheme, the victim's family receives an assistance amount of five lakh rupees in case of accidental death.
According to information, in hundreds of cases, despite the claims being approved, the victim's families have not received payment for months. Gehlot termed this as gross insensitivity on the part of the government.
The troubles of retired state employees have also increased. Payments for their own savings like GPF, group insurance, gratuity, and earned leave (PL) are not being released even months after retirement.
Additionally, social security pensions in many districts of the state have been pending for months, making it difficult for the elderly, widows, and disabled pensioners to make ends meet.
The non-payment of bills that have already been passed by the treasury is also directly affecting the state's development projects. Work related to roads, drinking water, and other infrastructure projects has come to a halt.
The payment crisis has deepened to such an extent that small contractors are being forced to attract the government's attention by placing advertisements in newspapers for their rightful payments.
Due to this crisis, the livelihoods of thousands of workers and small entrepreneurs are directly at risk, which is also negatively impacting the economic cycle.
Mr. Gehlot concluded the letter by stating that this crisis is not just a matter of administrative negligence but a serious question related to the livelihood, health, and dignity of millions of families. He expressed hope that the Chief Minister would understand the gravity of the matter and take immediate necessary decisions to provide relief to the people of the state.
Pradeep Budawat
