Chhattisgarh government has reportedly paid Rs 4 crore for taking up health awareness campaign across the state that had propelled opposition Congress party to lob fresh salvo on BJP-led government in the backdrop of sterilisation deaths.
"The amount of Rs 4.14 crore was paid to different groups that in fact did not do the job and the programmes were staged only on papers," former Congress minister Mohammed Akbar said. The state government had organised special campaign in 2007-08 that was named "Swastha Puran (Health Legend)".
Under the campaign, the groups assigned the job were supposed to staged street shows, stage programmes through cultural events to create health awareness among the people especially in the rural areas. Interestingly, the groups never organised the shows while the state government's health department had made huge payment for the same. "The issue was raised in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and the Health Minister, Amar Agrawal admitted that there was no record available where and when the groups organised the shows," Akbar said. He added that Agrawal said the matter was under investigation.
The health minister could not be contacted for a version on the issue.
Akbar said the Congress party would demand that the files related to the issue should be reopened and strict action should be taken against the guilty persons.
"The state government should bring the facts before the people," he added.
The issue had armed the opposition Congress to launch fresh crusade against the Raman Singh government that had already been in the back foot following the death of over a dozen women after sterilisation camps in Bilaspur district.
The Congress party would stage the gherao of chief minister's house on Thursday in protest against the sterilisation deaths incident.
