Maharashtra is a State which is reeling under the Pandemic of Covid 19 and still stands highest in terms of the number of Covid Positive Patient’s and despite having a Medical Assistance Cell for the Poor formed under Charitable Act and was helping the needy under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojna Current Maharashtra Government has closed it down !!
We at The Voice Of Citizens spoke to Mr.Omprakash Shete The Ex Chief of the Medical Assistance Cell of the earlier Maharashtra Chief Minister, Who is under great Grief as he is unable to help the poor people of the State of Maharashtra who still call him for Medical Assistance.
Earlier in an undated video which has been doing rounds on social media in which Omprakash Shete is seen breaking down while talking to media about the Coronavirus pandemic situation in the state. In the video, Shete is seen desperately crying over the rising toll of deaths in the state due to coronavirus.
“I am not able to sleep. Common man is dying. It feels bad”, Shete had said in the Video. He said that every day he receives hundreds of messages and he is tired of responding to them. Shete said that CM Maharashtra Mr.Uddhav Thackeray has the discretionary power to decide and it is his call to take. He added that after losing all hopes he has now approached the court seeking action. “People are dying because they do not have money. I have requested the court to help them”, Court has asked the State Government to respond and hopefully may pass an Interim order on the Next date i.e. in 2nd week of October 2020.
Earlier The video of Omprakash Shete was also mentioned today by Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Dipankar Datta during the hearing of a PIL seeking the reopening of religious places in the state. Refusing to intervene in the state government’s decision, Chief Justice Datta said that if Shete’s claims about the collapsing system in the state were true then something needed to be done. CJ Datta directed the Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to verify the authenticity of the video and to find whether Shete was actually part of the Medical Cell and that if the video was authentic and Shete was part of the state system ,then the state would have to address the situation.
Despite the Court’s remarks Maharashtra Government seems to be unmoved,infact Mr Shete Said “I tried reaching all concerned on this issue,but none seem to be interested in starting the Medical Help Cell again ‘ It’s to be noted that the Medical Help Cell was aiding the people below the income of Rs.85000/- annually with free Medical Assistance in Government Aided Hospitals which have 20% beds reserved for the poor and 100% free treatment and for the income group up to 1.5 lakhs a 50% discount in the Medical and Hospital Bills , which is currently stopped by Maharastra Government !!!.
We hope better sense prevails within the Political Corridors of Maharashtra and they restart the Medical Help Cell again for the Poor and thus aid the needy citizens during the time of this Pandemic