In Barmer, Rajasthan’s second largest district, there are very few takers for the ‘free medicine scheme’ launched by the Ashok Gehlot Government to woo the electorate. The disenchanted villagers are seething with anger in remote hamlets spread over vast swathes of parched land.
Poor road connectivity, absence of doctors and lack of treatment facilities often compound their miseries but instead of receiving treatment, all they have been offered is ‘sugar coated’ slogans and poorly implemented schemes.
As per the statistics of the State Government which are often shared by Gehlot himself in his election meetings, mostly to counter the negative campaign spearheaded by BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Vasundhara Raje, at least 2.5 lakh people are receiving free medicines on daily basis and over 16,000 clinical tests are also being conducted across various health centres in the State.
Put this question randomly to villagers in Barmer district and the spontaneous reply would be, “The scheme exists only on papers. For us, it is of no use”. “To avail free medicine facility we need to visit a designated health centre in our area. More than 66 years after Independence, we are struggling to get adequate number of health centres where we can receive treatment in case of any emergency,” a poor farmer hailing from Barmer’s Devak village told The Pioneer.
He said, “Whenever we are in need of some medical help we prefer calling a local health worker. He normally charges Rs 100 and provides us with the medicine and other helps if required. We have never rely on Government-run health centres, the farmer added. Another villager in Shiv Assembly constituency said, “In the absence of adequate health centres we seldom take benefit of these schemes”.
Another group of villagers from Kotra in Barmer district told The Pioneer, “The medicines which are being distributed are ineffective”. Showing marks of foot injury and strip of tablets, villager Gopal Singh said, “When I visited the nearby health centre, it was only after a lot of effort that I was handed over this strip of tablets. No one even bothered to do dressing of my wound at the health centre despite my requests”.
“The doctor sahib on duty, told me to take these tablets regularly for early healing. The aggrieved villager claimed, “Even after taking the medicines given at the health centre on regular basis, I am suffering”. He said, “I may have to consult a private practitioner to receive treatment before it is too late”.
The distribution of generic drugs across health centres has already become a big poll issue here in Rajasthan and in all his election meetings Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is defending his Government’s policy of distributing free medicines. In contrast the villagers in remote areas continue to complain as generic drugs have failed to soothe their nerves and treat their ailments.