Farishtey scheme for road accident victims sparks off blame game between L-G, AAP govt

Last week, the SC had issued a notice to the Delhi L-G’s office on a plea by the AAP Delhi government alleging that funds not being released for the scheme — under which free, cashless treatment is provided to road accident victims at the nearest hospital if the incident has occurred within the jurisdiction of Delhi – was depriving the people of the city of their fundamental right to essential public amenities such as the right to health and life.

The government had sought immediate re-operationalisation of the scheme through release of pending bills, timely payment to private hospitals, and the initiation of disciplinary action as well as suspension proceedings against “defaulting officials” whom the government contended were responsible for “deliberately orchestrating” its de-operationalisation.

Referring to media reports on the matter, Saxena on Saturday sought to point out that the scheme was under the health and finance departments, which were under the ambit of the Delhi government. “Any attempt at attributing the failures of schemes…under such Departments…is nothing but a pre-meditated exercise of hubris, aimed at shirking responsibilities and blaming others for your own failure,” Saxena wrote.

Saxena also questioned Kejriwal’s decision to forward a proposal from Bharadwaj, in the latter’s capacity as health minister, to him for making pending payments to hospitals, terming it “grossly erroneous as well as misleading.” “…any decision for payments to be made has to be taken at your end and at the end of the Health Minister, since the subjects are “transferred”, and any role attributed to me therein, is nothing but mischievous…” the L-G contended.

This note, Saxena stated, contained allegations such as non-payment of pending bills raised by some private hospitals who had treated victims of road accidents under the scheme, which the L-G said he had referred to the Chief Secretary for a factual report on the matter.

“I am informed that the said Scheme is a component of the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK)…I am also informed that various schemes under the DAK, to help poor patients and victims have been in operation right since 2011 and continue to be so,” Saxena stated.

Referring to the expenditure incurred on the scheme, Saxena said the total number of beneficiaries under the same during the 2022-23 Financial Year was 3,698 while it was recorded at 3,604 till October 31 of the 2023-24 fiscal. Payments made to private hospitals for it in 2022-23, he added, stood at over Rs. 4.85 crore and at over Rs. 3.54 crore till October this year.

“These figures…neither indicate a ‘halt in the scheme, nor do they support allegations of ‘non-payment’…in fact they belie the claims…It is surprising that instead of obtaining full facts and circumstances of the matter from the concerned administrative department…the Hon’ble Minister (Health / Finance) has preferred to file a writ before the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the L-G stated.

“…What is being played out is nothing but that characteristic game of disowning one’s own failures, ineptness and inefficiency and creating a public perception that one is not being allowed to work,” Saxena added.

Responding to Saxena, Bharadwaj contended that the declining yearly trend of beneficiaries and expenditure under the scheme told the story of its “collapse”. “…after its launch 2018, the number of beneficiaries started increasing with increasing awareness…The number reached 6,131 in year 2020-21 and then it declined to 5,456 in year 2021-22. However, in year 2022-23 it further declined to 3,698…” the health minister stated in his response.

A similar declining trend, he said, was reflected in expenditure by the Health Department on the Farishtey scheme. “L-G saab has been misinformed that a payment of Rs. 3.54 crore has been made till October this year…only Rs. 2.08 crore has been paid…” he stated.

Bharadwaj said he had held multiple meetings with the officials concerned to ensure that the scheme was “fully operational and utilised in its full capacity” but to no avail. “…I held multiple meetings with the Secretary Health, DGHS…However, in spite of verbal directions in the meetings, there was no visible change in the situation…I sent multiple written directions…however, even the written directions have not been complied…” he added.

Non-payment of bills to the private hospitals, Bharadwaj alleged, had led to denials of admissions of hundreds of accident victims, which would have a ripple effect on the “motivation of good samaritans who would have taken the unknown accident victims to private hospitals and would have faced denial of admissions”.

“…I am again requesting L-G saab to ensure strict action…against the errant officers and necessary steps…to make payment so that the Farishtey Scheme does not collapse,” he added.