अच्छा अस्पताल, बड़ा गुनाह

Centre cites Keralam's better healthcare; the High Court asks whether that rules out an AIIMS.

A Kerala High Court division bench, comprising chief justice Soumen Sen and justice Syam Kumar, heard writ petitions demanding an AIIMS for the state under the PMSSY. Deputy solicitor general OM Shalina submitted that the Union government was prioritising states with weaker healthcare infrastructure in allotting AIIMS under the scheme, and stated that Keralam had comparatively better healthcare facilities.

In an affidavit responding to two pleas by public action groups seeking an AIIMS in Kasaragod or Kottayam, the Centre said any decision on a new AIIMS can be taken only after approval for the continuation of the scheme is communicated and funds allocated. A proposal to extend PMSSY for another five years is at the stage of inter-ministerial consultations. The proposal was first put before the Union government in 2016, and the state had identified locations for the hospital.

The court said the matter has been pending for 11 years and that the large presence of private hospitals cannot also be a point of disqualification. The bench asked: “So, does the state of Keralam not require an AIIMS? Is that the stand of the Centre?” It also said: “Not everyone can afford to go to Aster....Kerala has high population density. There are states with multiple AIIMS. Why is there an AIIMS in Delhi? All the affluent people are there,”

Arey bhaiya, Kerala ne hospital achhe bana liye, ab saza mein AIIMS nahi milega. Padhai karo toh fail, fail ho jao toh scholarship. Prachand Chutiya logic.

Dekho babu, Centre ka tark samajhiye. Jiske paas hospital kam hain, usko AIIMS. Jiske paas achhe hain, usko intezaar. Matlab mohalle mein jo ladka mehnat karke topper bana, usse bola jaye ki beta tum toh pehle se hoshiyar ho, mithai doosre ke ghar jayegi. Gazab chutiyaapa hai. Aur file kitni purani? Gyarah saal. Gyarah saal mein toh bachcha paida hoke chhathi class mein pahunch jaata hai, par yahan file abhi bhi inter-ministerial consultation ke paalne mein jhool rahi hai.

High Court ne jo poocha woh sunke humko khushi hui: Dilli mein AIIMS kyun hai? Yeh sawaal Prachand Chutiya Management Committee ko bhi poochhna chahiye tha. Aur private hospital zyada hain toh disqualification? Bahut badhiya. Matlab bazaar mein dukaan zyada ho toh sarkari rashan card cancel. Hum samjha rahe hain: yeh logic nahi, Prachand Chutiyagiri ka seedha prasaaran hai.

FINAL VERDICTAaj ka Prachand Award: 'Achhe Ke Liye Saza' Samman, Centre ke tark ko. Kyunki yahan hospital sudharna hi sabse bada jurm nikla.