Hosp fails to use fund, forfeits ₹16.5 L

BAREILLY : Usually government hospitals suffer from a cash crunch. But a government district hospital here in Badaun forfeited Rs 16.50 lakh given to it by a Samjawadi Party lawmaker four years ago as it was unable to buy life-saving equipment and other medical apparatus.

The donor was none other than well-known poet and SP MLC Wasim Barelvi. Miffed over the sheer lethargy and callous attitude of the authorities, Wasim has now sought action against the erring medical and government officials accusing them of ‘criminal negligence.’ “I donated Rs 25 lakh to this district hospital in Badaun in 205 after I was told that there was lack of critical care medical facilities,” said the poet.

Apart from sprucing up the infrastructure, the amount was to be spent on buying ventilators, X-ray machines and other lifesupporting apparatus. But because of red-tape and official apathy, the hospital authorities could utilize only Rs 8.50 lakh out of the sanctioned Rs 25 lakh that too when the matter was raised by the SP MLC in the UP Assembly. Following inquiry ordered by the state government, the health department and district administration including the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) got into damage-control and tried to convince SP lawmaker to allow the amount to be utilised for other works but the latter put his foot down.

“They (authorities) came up with a proposal seeking my permission to use the funds for other ongoing works at the hospital but I turned down the plan as the money was pledged to provide medical equipment and treatment for the poor,” said Wasim.

The SP MLC has now written to the authorities to take the unutilized Rs 16.50 lakh back from the Badaun district hospital.

“We have initiated the process and will soon get the refund from the hospital administration,” said Anil Kumar, project director, DRDA. Meanwhile, hospital’s CMS Dr BB Pushkar said that they had got new TMT, screening and X-ray machines from the funds donated by SP lawmaker and would invite him soon to inaugurate them.