The Hindu : Kerala News : Chandy alleges mismanagement

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Friday, Aug 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Chandy alleges mismanagement

Special Correspondent

In tackling viral fever outbreak in Kodencherry

Alleges delay in providing free ration
Says State failed to take preventive action

Kozhikode: After a visit to Kodencherry on Thursday, where incidence of infectious fever has been very high, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has expressed concern at the shortcomings in delivery of Government’s relief programmes for the fever-affected.

While describing the fever-situation in Kodencherry panchayat as a glaring example of Government mismanagement, Mr. Chandy said at a press conference here that an unpardonably long delay had occurred in providing free ration to the 6,000 odd families affected by fever in Kodencherry, 55 km from Kozhikode city.

During his visit, he was told by the local panchayat president that though free ration was sought, it took two weeks for the District Medical Officer to forward the request to the District Supply Officer and for free ration to materialise.

“A number of families have not received free ration,” Mr. Chandy alleged.

The local panchayat authorities’ appeal for 20 beds in the primary health centre had also gone unheeded, Mr. Chandy said.

He said the Government created a “famine-like” situation in many places in the State because of its failure to provide free ration to families whose bread-winners were laid up with fever and its painful and sometimes crippling side-effects.

There was delay even in taking action on a Government order, issued in the last week of June.

According to this order, Rs.1 lakh had to be paid as compensation to families of the fever victims, irrespective of their age.

“The Government should get help from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to tackle this emergency,” he said.

Mr. Chandy reiterated his charge that the Government refusal to implement the health insurance scheme for the poor had aggravated the crisis in the health sector.

Mr. Chandy said nearly 52,000 applications from sick people for assistance from the Chief Minister’s Fund were lying unattended.

He said chikungunya would not have caused so much havoc in the State had the LDF Government taken timely action on a warning received from the Central Government.

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