Family welfare programme of Delhi’s Municipal Corporations that caters to pediatrics, population control through family planning, maternal and reproductive health may shut down soon in the Capital as the corporations have no fund to run them.
The corporations claimed that they have not received due fund from the Delhi Government and running the schemes for them is a tough ask. They are left with no other option but to close these services.
Chairman Standing Committee of North civic body, MP Bhardwaj, said the North Corporation alone has already spent Rs76.77 on the programme since 2006. The Delhi Government had to release Rs90 crore under this head but no money has been released so far. About 201 employees, attached with this programme, are getting salary from Corporation’s fund.
“Owing to the financial crisis, we have decided to close it down. We have passed the proposal on Wednesday which is likely to get the go ahead from the House,” said Bhardwaj.
According to the report, the cash strapped civic bodies have decided to down the shutters on over two dozen family planning clinics in the city and discontinue all the projects related to maternity and child welfare, family planning and population control.
These programmes were being run by the civic bodies before their trifurcation and were being reimbursed by the Centre through Delhi Government.
The Corporations claimed that despite provisions of 100 per cent grant every year, no money has been received in the last 10 years and the agencies are bearing entire cost including running of clinics, salary of staff along with other expenses.
“We are managing every bit on our own. Delhi Government has not paid us the outstanding amount of Rs979 crores to South Delhi Municipal Corporation. Therefore we have decided to move court over the issue. Since we are already burdened with many other services we do not carry out many family programmes as that would pile up the dues,” said Radhe Shyam Sharma, SDMC Standing Committee Chairperson.
leader of House in North MCD, Yogender Chandolia, warned that senior leaders along with Corporation councillors would gherao the Chief Minister’s residence and office if the Government do not pay fund of Rs77 crore against family welfare programme already spent by the Corporation and State received it from the Union Government.