CPM ‘forces’ Ramadoss to withdraw autonomy Bill

After his success with the AIIMS Bill, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss...

After his success with the AIIMS Bill, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss faced an embarrassment with a Bill granting autonomy to a post-graduate medical institute in Puducherry.

The CPI(M) insistence on an amendment in the Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry Bill, 2007, forced the Minister to withdraw the Bill and send it back to the Cabinet for reconsideration.

The CPI(M) wanted that the Bill include an amendment stating that the existing fee structure would never be altered. The Minister, however, said the Bill cannot have a provision for fixed fee structure and such a scheme could be incorporated in the rules. Politburo member Brinda Karat, however, refused to take back the amendment.

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Karat’s contention was that the fee structure be part of the Bill and that it also assure free medical treatment at the hospital to the poor.

Karat had moved amendments that included employees right to go on appeal against disciplinary action. Ramadoss assured that the employees’ interest would be protected, but Karat was not satisfied.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi intervened to suggest that if it has to change it has to go back to Cabinet and the Prime Minister has to be consulted. Later, Ramadoss said the Bill will have to go to the Cabinet as Karat’s amendment for fixed fee structure had not been withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the Left had a strange supporter in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. While the Left leaders pushed for the amendments, Shiv Sena spoke against the clauses related to employees rights when the BJP MPs said the Bill could be passed unanimously if amendments suggested by Karat were taken into account.