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 be implemented 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.