New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) India’s apex plan panel, Planning Commission, has been described as ‘insensitive’ by a lawmakers’ committee for rejecting a government scheme for providing essential medicines free of cost to the poor.
A parliamentary panel, attached to the union chemicals and fertilizers ministry, has also rebuked the department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry for its failure to abandon its proposed scheme – Rajiv Gandhi Aushadhi Yojana – after failing to secure the Planning Commission’s approval.
‘The committee feels concerned over the insensitivity of the Planning Commission for not giving their in-principle approval to the Rajiv Gandhi Aushadhi Yojana (RGAY) meant only for the have-nots or the deprived lots of the masses – the below poverty line (BPL) families,’ said the lawmakers’ panel headed by Gopinath Munde.
The report of the parliamentary standing committee on chemicals and fertilizers was tabled in parliament Aug 26.
‘The committee also takes a serious view of the lack of proactive approach by the department of pharmaceuticals in voicing their concern over the rejection of the newly- planned scheme by the Planning Commission,’ the report added.
The lawmakers’ panel has asked the department of pharmaceuticals to approach the Planning Commission afresh and seek its approval for the scheme with ‘renewed vigour’.
The parliamentary committee also asked the department to seek the Planning Commission’s reason for shooting down the scheme and apprise it of the same at the earliest.
The RGAY envisaged free distribution of unbranded generic medicine to BPL families.
The scheme envisaged sharing of costs in the ratio of 70:30 between the central government and state governments.
Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have already taken a lead in carrying out the modalities for the scheme’s implementation.
After coming to know of the pro-poor scheme formulated by the department, the lawmakers’ committee had earlier expressed happiness and had asked it to seek in-principle approval of the scheme from the Planning Commission.
