Speaker Shashank Shekhar Bhokta decided to form an Assembly committee on Monday to probe into the alleged bungling committed by various insurance companies in delivering health insurance to the poor under Rastriya Swasthaya Bima Yojna (RSBY).
The ruling came after labour and Employment Minister KN Tripathi informed the Assembly that there was a gross policy misconduct committed in delivering health insurance to the poor under RSBY. The reported misconduct was conducted between 2009 and 2013 in which the Government exchequer lost Rs 107 crore.
He revealed that during the period the insurance companies actually paid Rs 75 crore to different hospitals against the treatment given to persons enrolled under the health insurance scheme but reclaimed amount much higher than that. “It is a gross policy appropriation by the then Government. In the lieu of Rs 75 crore the companies claimed Rs 182 crore from the Government incurring scam involving Rs 107 crore. It is only that but the Government renewed contract to the same companies in 2013,” said the Minister. Tripathi went ahead and added that his Department was in the process of ordering a probe into the matter.
This led Parliamentary Affair Minister Rajendra Singh to request to the Speaker to form an assembly committee to investigate the case. “It is a serious issue and I am ordering for a special committee for the matter,” said the Speaker.
Total 16,45,815 families are presently enrolled under the scheme in the State for which 217 private and 220 public sector hospitals are empanelled. The Minister later informed The Pioneer that the misconduct was the result to policy fault and its implementation. “The matter is related to RSBY. The probe has been ordered and we have to wait before reaching at any conclusion.”
Meanwhile, during the CM’s question hour, matters related to corruption was also raised by JVM’s Pradeep Yadav who asked Hemant that weather he wanted to form laws which empowers the Government to confiscate properties of corrupt officials.
“Corruption is the biggest issue the State is facing. Do you want to bring special law against corruption and make a cell in the Vigilance Bureau and set up a special court to investigate the cases,” asked Yadav.
The CM responded, saying that his Government was willing to have such a law. “We already have Vigilance Bureau in place. But we will try to enact law and anti-corruption wing.” later Yadav questioned as to why the State did not have anti-corruption law and provision for confiscating properties of corrupts. “I would also raise amendment to lokayukta Act in the State which would empower the existing ombudsman in Jhakrhand,” he said.
Talking about his Department that include Rural Development Tripathi said that against budgeted Rs 1650 crore it was being targeted that Rs 2000 crore would be spent in rural areas. He also stressed that performance of officials would be the only criteria for transfer postings. “To improve transparency, we are implementing NREGA payment through DBT and biometric system. A vigilance committee would be setup to look into charges of embezzlement,” said Tripahi.