In this State there are two sets of rules, one for the aam aadmi and another for MLAs. This is more apparent in the field of medical health. While the general public has been extended insurance cover of Rs 2.5 lakh for a family of three and Rs 4 lakh for a family of four under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana, MLAs have a scheme without any limit. According to the rules of the scheme, the Speaker shall have the power to sanction medical bills up to an amount of Rs three lakh. Bills exceeding this amount are referred to a committee comprising the chief minister, leader of the opposition and the Speaker. So far, bills exceeding this amount have been cleared and the highest of Rs 11 lakh was claimed by a former chief minister in 2013. Besides, MLAs can avail of medical treatment outside the State.
Several MLAs have benefitted from this open-ended medical insurance scheme and while we believe that MLAs too require medical insurance, why do they need to have an open-ended scheme while the general public has one with limits? What is the logic behind granting MLAs a special medical insurance scheme which gives them larger insurance cover? Why can’t MLAs and the general public be treated on an equal footing at least as far as medical insurance is concerned?
The insurance scheme extended to the State MLAs is special. Even members of parliament do not have a special scheme. According to a booklet which details salaries, allowances and facilities made available to MPs, a member of parliament is entitled to same medical facilities as are available to the Class-I officers of Central Civil Services, under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). The scheme is no doubt elaborate but it is still a common scheme and MPs are treated on par with class I officers of the central government. Under this scheme, rates are set for empaneled hospitals and this amount is paid through medical reimbursement.
While the health of the State’s MLAs is important, the fact that they treat themselves as a class above everyone else is bound to create resentment in the general public. It is perks of this nature, which are not available to the aam aadmi, that generates a trust deficit between the MLA and the voters. This in turn makes governance more difficult. For instance, traffic management is never looked at with a sense of urgency precisely because ministers and most MLAs move about in chauffeur-driven cars. This prevents them for experiencing the hardships faced by the general public and diminishes the urgency in finding solutions to problems.
The State needs to have a common medical insurance bill for the general public and MLAs, who already enjoy several benefits and a grand pension scheme. The special medical insurance scheme for MLAs must be scrapped and everyone must be brought under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana.
