Chandigarh--The Centre has asked the Punjab government to either remove Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pictures from the 108 ambulances or forgo a national grant under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), worth Rs 13 crore. Narendra Modi government’s stand on the matter is in sync with the decision taken by the previous UPA government.
The cash-stapped Punjab government was hoping that the Centre would allow CM Badal’s pictures on the ambulances, given that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is a constituent of the NDA. But it was made clear to the state officials that Punjab should follow ‘colour coding’ of ambulances under the scheme if it wanted to receive a grant for running the service.
Sources in the government told The Indian Express that the Centre’s decision was conveyed to the state functionaries at a meeting of the NRHM, held in Delhi on May 12. The meeting was attended by 15 functionaries of the state health department.
The state officials had taken up the issue of Badal’s pictures during the meeting. But it was made clear to them that the rules would not be bent for the state. The functionaries, according to sources, were also told that the decision was final.
“We were expecting that CM’s pictures would be allowed since it is our government at the Centre. It is unfortunate that it has not been done,” said a government functionary, who did not want to be named.
When contacted, Hussan Lal, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Punjab said that he could not say anything on the issue. “The state government is waiting for the final decision of the Centre,” he added.
INDIAN EXPRESS
