The Manohar Lal Khattar Government on Friday claimed that not a single person has died due to lack of medical oxygen in the state during the second wave of COVID-19.
The claim was made during the first day of the monsoon session of Haryana Assembly here even as the state had witnessed at least three incidents of deaths of patients due to lack of medical oxygen at private hospitals in the month of April.
As on August 19, 2021, 9664 people have succumbed to COVID-19 in the state.
The State Government also informed that 26 healthcare workers have lost their lives due to the deadly virus in Haryana. This included 11 doctors, eight paramedical staff, two Asha workers and two other staff members. Notably, Haryana’s healthcare system was overwhelmed by a huge spike in COVID cases in April and May and the family members of COVID patients were seen struggling to find hospital beds, life-saving drugs and medical oxygen. At least three incidents of deaths of COVID patients due to shortage of medical oxygen were reported at private hospitals in Hisar, Gurugram and Rewari districts in April.
The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in reply to a question on COVID-19 deaths, said that there is no record regarding death of a patient due to lack of medical oxygen in the state. Maintaining that the state faced shortage of oxygen initially, Khattar said despite this, the State Government managed the situation effectively.
Reacting to this, former Chief Minister and Leader of opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda alleged that the number of COVID-19 deaths have been vastly underreported in the state. Questioning the State Government over the actual COVID-19 death toll, Hooda demanded that a high-level committee should be constituted to investigate the underreporting of COVID-19 deaths so that the truth comes out… The number of casualties due to second wave of COVID-19 should be ascertained.Rs Rs
The second COVID-19 wave that began in the month of March accounted for 68 percent (6614) of the total 9664 COVID-19 fatalities in Haryana till August 19. Over 4.99 lakh positive cases have been reported during the second wave. The state had reported the highest 15,786 positive cases on May 4 while the highest ever 181 fatalities in a single day were reported on May 5. During the first COVID-19 wave upto February 2021, a total of 3050 people had died while 270950 were found infected with the virus in Haryana.
980 POSTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS LYING VACANT
A total of 980 posts of medical officers are lying vacant against 3596 sanctioned posts in Haryana. In a reply tabled in the State Assembly, the government informed, “228 posts of nursing sister are lying vacant against 436 sanctioned posts, 2260 posts of staff nurse against 4403 sanctioned posts are also lying vacant.” Over 700 posts of lab technicians, 366 posts of pharmacists, 117 of Ophthalmic assistant, 232 of radiographer, 187 of OTA, 310 of MPHS (F), 726 posts of MPHW (M), 436 field workers, 175 posts of dental assistant, 110 of dental surgeon are also lying vacant in government medical institutions of Haryana, as per the government’s data.
9.9% UNEMPLOYMENT IN HARYANA
The State Government informed the House that the unemployment rate of Haryana as per latest periodic labour force survey conducted by Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), is reported to be 9.9 percent as compared to 13.3 percent at the all-India level. Haryana’s unemployment rate is significantly less than those in the neighbouring state of Delhi (12 percent), Rajasthan (15.1 percent), Uttar Pradesh (13.4 percent) and Punjab (10.8 percent), the government said in reply to a question.
75 PERCENT quota FOR HARYANA YOUTHS NOT INTO FORCE
The State Government also informed the House that the 75 percent reservation law has not come into force in Haryana. On a question related to jobs provided under the new 75 percent reservation law, the government said, “No such reservation has been provided by the Labour Department, Haryana as on date. Further it is clarified that the State Assembly had passed “The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidate Bill, 2020” on November 5. 2002. After having received the assent of Governor of Haryana, the same has been enacted and notified as such on March 2, 2021. The Act has not come into force so far, as the date of its enforcement has not been notified by the State Government.”
8.71 LAKH COMPLAINTS RECEIVED ON CM WINDOW
As many as 8,71.265 complaints have been received on CM’s window till August 17, 2021. According to the data tabled by the government in the House, 4087 complains were received in 2014 (December 25-31), 1,22,099 in 2015, 1,21,590 in 2016, 1,49,793 in 2017, 1,54,502 in 2018, 1,46,114 in 2019, 99,031 in 2020 and 74,049 in 2021 (till August 17). Till now, a total of 942 officers/officials of various departments have been found guilty in complaints received on CM’s window and action has been taken against them under the service rules.
25666 TEACHING POSTS VACANT
A total of 25666 posts of teaching faculty in government schools including 1045 Principal, 155 HeadMaster High School, 13073 PGTs/Lecturers, 11041 TGTs, 1018 PRT/JBT/HT (Mewat) are lying vacant in Haryana. Against the sanctioned posts of 12768 field officers in teaching, 94244 are working, stated the data tabled by the State Government in the House. Apart from this, 9423 posts of non-teaching staff like Joint Director, Deputy Director, DEO, DEEO among others are also lying vacant against the sanctioned post of 20586 in the state. 212 posts of non-teaching staff against 612 sanctioned posts at Headquarters like Additional Director (Education), Joint Director (IT), Senior Research officers, Deputy Director (IT & Vigilance) are also lying vacant.
2,20,48,121 REGISTERED UNDER PPP
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar informed the State Assembly that 2,20,48,121 persons belonging to 54,73, 599 families in the state have given their signed consent by registering themselves in Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) till August 18. The Chief Minister said that the government’s target is to financially uplift the families having annual income of less than Rs 1.8 lakh. He also informed that 9,20,569 families comprising 29,84,533 persons have updated their data in registration and PPP till August 18, but their signed consent is yet to be provided.
Responding to data leak concerns, Khattar claimed that there is no breach or leakage of data and it is safe.