Rajasthan
MLA LAD funds to be used on health sector this year, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot | Jaipur News
JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has announced to bring a change in the rules governing MLA LAD funds by making a provision to spend it only on strengthening health services in the present financial year.
The announcement came during his address in a virtual conference on ‘Increasing the Participation and Awareness on Vaccination’ with MPs, MLAs, social activists and religious leaders on Sunday.
“The changes would be made in the eligible works under the MLA Lad funds guidelines so that it can be used for advancing the healthcare centres like sub-centres PHCs, CHCs and other health facilities. Next year you (MLAs) can spend the money in the manner you like. I will talk more on this later,” said Gehlot.
The state government has increased the MLA LAD fund from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore from this financial year. Of the total, Rs 3 crore was allocated for CM Relief Fund by each of the 200 MLAs for the vaccination drive in the 18-44 years age group.
“Since the Union government is giving money for vaccination of all age groups, we will return the funds to the MLAs collected for vaccination,” said Gehlot. The move came a day after deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore shot a letter to Gehlot seeking the return of allocated money under the MLA Lad fund.
Hinting those rural areas which will perform better in vaccination would be rewarded, Gehlot said they are working to announce the reward programmes like the additional grant of Rs 50 lakh to motivate people for vaccination. “Nobody has any right to put the lives of anybody in danger by not vaccinating. If people have any hesitancy, all stakeholders have to work together to dispel myths around vaccinations,” said Gehlot Stressing on the need of having better coordination between the state and the Centre, Gehlot said highlighting the problems and issues with the Centre is part of the democracy. “Constructive criticism is always welcome, but it should be based on facts and evidence,” said Gehlot, referring to the wastage of vaccines issue raised by BJP.
Rathore had expressed his concern over the slow pace of vaccination in the state and expressed his disappointment on health minister Raghu Sharma for not sharing the vaccine strategy in the light of the free vaccines for all schemes from Monday. “I expected the health minister to have shared a detailed road map on vaccination drive but you have gone into telling vaccination saga. Our rank in vaccinating per lakh population is among the bottom states,” said Rathore.
Among the religious leaders, Mahant Kailesh Sharma of Moti Doongri Temple had assured full support to the state in encouraging devotees to go for vaccination. He said, “If the religious places would be allowed to open, it will easier for the religious leaders to communicate with the devotees on the subject.”
The announcement came during his address in a virtual conference on ‘Increasing the Participation and Awareness on Vaccination’ with MPs, MLAs, social activists and religious leaders on Sunday.
“The changes would be made in the eligible works under the MLA Lad funds guidelines so that it can be used for advancing the healthcare centres like sub-centres PHCs, CHCs and other health facilities. Next year you (MLAs) can spend the money in the manner you like. I will talk more on this later,” said Gehlot.
The state government has increased the MLA LAD fund from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore from this financial year. Of the total, Rs 3 crore was allocated for CM Relief Fund by each of the 200 MLAs for the vaccination drive in the 18-44 years age group.
“Since the Union government is giving money for vaccination of all age groups, we will return the funds to the MLAs collected for vaccination,” said Gehlot. The move came a day after deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore shot a letter to Gehlot seeking the return of allocated money under the MLA Lad fund.
Hinting those rural areas which will perform better in vaccination would be rewarded, Gehlot said they are working to announce the reward programmes like the additional grant of Rs 50 lakh to motivate people for vaccination. “Nobody has any right to put the lives of anybody in danger by not vaccinating. If people have any hesitancy, all stakeholders have to work together to dispel myths around vaccinations,” said Gehlot Stressing on the need of having better coordination between the state and the Centre, Gehlot said highlighting the problems and issues with the Centre is part of the democracy. “Constructive criticism is always welcome, but it should be based on facts and evidence,” said Gehlot, referring to the wastage of vaccines issue raised by BJP.
Rathore had expressed his concern over the slow pace of vaccination in the state and expressed his disappointment on health minister Raghu Sharma for not sharing the vaccine strategy in the light of the free vaccines for all schemes from Monday. “I expected the health minister to have shared a detailed road map on vaccination drive but you have gone into telling vaccination saga. Our rank in vaccinating per lakh population is among the bottom states,” said Rathore.
Among the religious leaders, Mahant Kailesh Sharma of Moti Doongri Temple had assured full support to the state in encouraging devotees to go for vaccination. He said, “If the religious places would be allowed to open, it will easier for the religious leaders to communicate with the devotees on the subject.”
