West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her government is investigating a sudden rise in expenses under the Swasthya Sathi scheme during the junior doctors’ protests and strike following the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
In a meeting with the protesting junior doctors, CM Banerjee revealed that she had access to data showing a notable increase in the state’s expenditure on Swasthya Sathi—a flagship health insurance scheme offering coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare—during their demonstration for justice for the victim.
While answering a question on this matter raised by Samir Kumar Jana in the assembly during the ongoing winter session, the chief minister said, “During the RG Kar incident, there were instances of misuse of the Swasthya Sathi cards, and we have gathered evidence to support this. The Swasthya Sathi fund is not for personal benefit. It is public money meant for the people.”
“Strict action will be taken against those who embezzled public money,” she added. “At that time [during the protests and strike] we had to spend more money [than usual] on Swasthya Sathi. You didn’t work but took the money from other route.”
CM Banerjee further stated that the initial round of investigation into the incident has been completed. Multiple sources of information have been identified, and everything is being thoroughly re-examined.
However, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), which led the protests, denied the allegations raised by the chief minister but welcomed all kinds of investigations into the matter.
“If the government cannot respect our movement, it mustn’t disparage it. We have been honest from the first day, and we know how we protested. We are ready to face any investigation,” Dr Rumelika Kumar, a leader of WBJDF, said.