Acceding to a vociferous demand, Speaker Dinesh Oraon on Wednesday agreed to constitute a committee headed by a senior MlA to probe into the financial irregularities and suggesting measures to provide better services to the common people at RIMS.
Raising the issue in the Assembly, BJP MlA Radha Krishna Kishore pointed out that Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has spent Rs40 crore for the construction of parking and other works while there was an acute shortage of medical instruments and drugs.
"The only super specialty hospital in Jharkhand has failed to provide proper medical services to the poor, but the Government in spite of focusing on basic issues, has constructed multi-level parking at the hospital," said Kishore.
The BJP MlA, supported by Urban Development Minister CP Singh, leader of Opposition Hemant Soren, Viranchi Narayan among others, demanded that an Assembly committee should be formed by the Speaker to look into the matter and suggest measures for improving the condition of RIMS.
Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi, however, explained that there was no dearth of funds for drugs or medical instruments and an amount of Rs20 crore and Rs15 crore has also been given separately for drugs and staff payments. "Total allotment of Rs110 crore has been allotted to RIMS for taking care of the requirement of the institute, including infrastructure development," said Chandravanshi.
Meanwhile, during a debate on the Budget tabled on Tuesday, JVM MlA Pradeep Yadav asserted that it was a bag full of announcements which could never be fulfilled in the next 20-25 years. "It will remain a part of the financial mismanagement filling up the pockets of the ministers and bureaucrats," he added.
"This Budget is unique for three reasons. Firstly, a Chief Minister himself presented the budget which was never done in Jharkhand or any other state. Secondly, the budget was presented in the market before it was actually presented in the House. lastly, the way CM has made announcements, he need not require making any other announcement for the next 25 years. Das even beat former Bihar CM Jeetan Ram Manjhi in this regard," said the JVM MlA sarcastically.
Yadav also alleged that the Government has not taken corruption seriously and announced to replace Vigilance Bureau with Anti-corruption Bureau. "How can one expect a corruption-free Government which has appointed BC Nigam as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) against whom ADG (Vigilance) of Bihar seeks government's approval for prosecution in five corruption cases registered against him," he pointed out.
Countering Yadav, BJP MlA Radha Krishna Kishore said that the Budget is a perfect example of excellent financial management. "The Budget has been drafted taking into consideration the financial management for the next 25 years. I congratulate the Chief Minister for such a Budget, which takes care of people of all classes and catering to each and every sector of social and economic development, never seen in the last 14 years in the State," said Kishore.