MUMBAI: After differences between alliance partners over guardian minister appointments, the Fadnavis-led Mahayuti govt is now facing another tussle.
Deputy CM and Sena chief Eknath Shinde has set up a DCM’s Medical Aid Cell at Mantralaya and appointed his close aide Mangesh Chivate as its head. This is the first time that a Deputy CM has set up a medical aid cell even as the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund cell is already in place. Chivate said the cell will work in coordination with the public health department and not provide direct financial aid.
Ex-Chief of CM’s relief fund to head Shinde’s medical aid cell
The DCM’s Medical Aid Cell set up by Eknath Shinde will complement the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) cell to help needy and poor patients, said the Sena chief’s close aide and the cell head, Mangesh Chivate.
He said the cell will work in coordination with the state public health department, which is headed by Shiv Sena minister Prakash Abitkar.
Incidentally, Chivate was leading the CMRF when Shinde was chief minister. During Shinde’s tenure, last year, around 32,000 patients were provided with assistance of a total Rs 267.5 crore from the CMRF. Chivate was replaced by Rameshwar Naik after Fadnavis became head of the state.
When Fadnavis was deputy CM, Naik was handling the law and judiciary department, which also coordinated with private charitable hospitals to provide treatment to needy patients.
“The DCM Medical Aid Cell will help implement the state’s Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana more effectively,” Chivate said. “This cell will not provide direct financial assistance to patients, but guide people on how this relief can be availed through CMRF as well as the charitable hospital scheme, National Child Health Programme, and the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Scheme. This cell will work as a link to implement health schemes more effectively and to ensure that patients get free health services.”
Chivate further said: “Additionally, financial assistance will be raised for needy patients through various social organisations for expensive surgeries like organ transplants…The cell will coordinate to raise funds through various schemes of state and central govts as well as through organisations like Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and Tata Trust.”
