The Indian Express 15.08.2012
Civic body to foot complete medical bills of former corporators
Corporators in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have gifted a
shock to citizens on the eve of Independence Day as the standing
committee on Tuesday approved a proposal under which the civic body will
incur the complete medical expenses of all former corporators. This was
earlier applicable only to sitting corporators.
“The committee has unanimously approved the proposal of the civic
body incurring complete medical expenses of all its former
corporators,” said PMC standing committee chairperson Baburao Chandere.
He said the proposal was tabled by NCP leader Subhash Jagtap and was given by committee members of all the political parties.Till now, the PMC was incurring 50 per cost of medical expenses
of former corporators and their spouses, Chandere said. “This decision
will enable all former corporators and their spouses to get free medical
facilities throughout their life.”
Asked about the number of former corporators and their spouses
who would benefit from the decision, he said there is no such record
available.We are also not aware of the amount of burden it would put on
the civic body every year, but any former corporator seeking such
benefits can take advantage of it,” said Chandere.
Jagtap said he had mooted the proposal after witnessing the
plight of a few former corporators who died owing to inability to incur
their medical expenses. “They have served the city and deserve all
required medication,” he added.
When it was pointed out that the PMC scheme of medical assistance
of maximum Rs 1 lakh was only applicable to citizens below poverty line
and asked why the same can’t apply to former corporators, Jagtap said
the efforts put in by any corporator for the welfare of the city and
citizens are too much.
The proposal would beimplemented soon after it is cleared in the general body meeting, he
said. Jagtap, however, also admitted there was misuse of a similar
facility of PMC by sitting corporators who produce false bills to the
civic body.
