Santa plays on: Off with hospital, parking fee

Yesterday, it was power tariff, today it’s hospital fees, parking fees, fees for guarding footwear in temples. J. Jayalalithaa’s pro-people rollout shows no signs of ending. All measures, the Tamil Nadu CM promptly declared, meant to ‘‘alleviate the sufferings of the general public’’.

Jayalalithaa said the collection of fees at Rs 5 per head for the visitors and out patients getting specialised treatment in government hospitals and institutions had been in force from November 30, 2001. Though the amount collected was used only for the upkeep of the hospitals, she said she had received requests from the poor to withdraw the fee. The government’s waiver of this fee would come into force on Wednesday.

The CM made it clear that though the government withdrew the levy of fees in hospitals, it would ensure that necessary financial assistance for the upkeep of hospitals is provided. She has also asked the local bodies not to collect parking fees for cycles, two-and three-wheelers. Besides, the parking fee for cars, vans and lorries have been reduced drastically.

Jayalalithaa has also asked the departments managing 36,356 temples throughout Tamil Nadu to make arrangements for guarding the footwear of devotees free of cost. The government’s decision would come into effect on July 1, 2004.