Question Hour
By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 20 Feb: Today it was the turn of Education, Health, Higher Education and Cooperatives Minister Dhan Singh Rawat to respond to the questions raised by the members in the House related to the departments under his charge. Several pertinent questions were raised including shortage of doctors in government hospitals, particularly in the hills.
During Question Hour, Congress MLA Virendra Jati raised concerns about poor loan distribution by cooperative banks to the farmers. He claimed that the benefits of schemes are not reaching eligible farmers, who then have to borrow money at interest from local sources for crop protection. In response, Cooperatives Minister Dhan Singh Rawat assured that the government is taking action against improper loan distributions and SIT investigations have been ordered to look into the allegations.
Congress MLA Harish Dhami raised concern over shortage of doctors in government hospitals, particularly in the hills and remote areas. In response, the Health Minister provided figures. Which actually confirmed the allegations. Dr Dhan Singh added that there is a 48 to 50 percent shortage of specialist doctors in the state. Out of 1,896 sanctioned posts, only 1,182 are filled. Of the posts filled, 716 posts are contract doctors. In response to a specific question by Dhami, Rawat shared that sixteen posts are vacant in Pithoragarh district. The Health Minister assured that, in the next three years, 100 percent of specialist doctors’ posts will be filled.
BJP MLA Brij Bhushan Gairola raised concerns about the shortage of doctors in Doiwala’s sub-district hospital, while BJP MLA Anil Nautiyal addressed the shortage in Simli Hospital. MLA Khushal Singh Adhikari also raised issues about the lack of health facilities in government community health centres. In response, Rawat claimed that health facilities are being continuously increased, and the shortage of doctors and medical staff is being addressed.
Congress MLA Virendra Jati raised concerns about the lack of fee fixation in private schools in the state. Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat responded that even the central government has no provision regarding the Fee Act. He however added that, in case, all MLAs agree, the state government will consider making a Fee Act. Currently, the government has no intention of bringing a fee policy, but the government is open to deciding together if the House desires, Rawat claimed.
BJP MLA Pritam Singh Panwar questioned when teachers in the Education Department would have the opportunity to change divisions as many teachers want a change of division from Garhwal to Kumaon and vice versa for genuine reasons. He also asked how many had applied for such changes. Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat replied that, after board examinations, teachers will be transferred under division change. He also shared that 542 teachers have applied for divisional change.
Lansdowne MLA Dalip Rawat questioned the lack of policy for the uplift of Sanskrit. The Education Minister responded that efforts are being made to promote Sanskrit in Uttarakhand, where it has been given the status of the second official language. Dhan Singh Rawat further shared that scholarships are given to students to promote Sanskrit, and top students are honoured. However, no specific policy for Sanskrit language promotion is being made at this time, he conceded.
