State neglects Medical Edn Deptt gives least priority By Vikas Vaidya ; It gives priority to women and child welfare public health Spends lowest amount 0.79% on tourism and culture and 8.39% on energy and industry Though Medical Education Department in Maharashtra is doing yeomans service in this pandemic so many frontline healthworkers became victims of Covid-19 Maharashtra Government has neglected this department. It is evident from the expenditure reported in the budget. Medical Education Department remained the last priority as Government spent only 9.59 per cent funds on this department. It spent more amount 36.28% on public health whose contribution is less as compared to medical education. The pandemic that began in first week of March it is the frontline healthworkers in Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMCHs) in Maharashtra that are rendering services. If Nagpur alone is considered GMCH (Medical) alone contributed almost 1000 beds without having proportionate staff. It converted Trauma Centre into Covid hospital within 10 days. Same is the case with Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) that has made 600 beds available for the Covid-19 patients. GMCHs all over the state did fantastic job. But Government spent only 9.59%. Surprisingly it spent more amount to the tune of 36.28 per cent on public health department whose contribution is less as compared to medical education. The provision of fund in public health is Rs 11988.21 crore and Government spent Rs 2101.14 which comes to 36.28%. The provision for medical education department is Rs 4823.5 crore but Government spent only Rs 55.35 crore the per centage of expenditure stands at 9.59%. Why the difference is maintained in these two branches and why the equality is not brought when it is medical education department that is contributing more is a million dollar question. Surprisingly the highest expenditure is reported in Women and Child Welfare department as Government has spent Rs 2356.53 crore which is 62.25%. The provision for this department in the budget is Rs 3992.46 crore. Government totally ignored tourism and culture department as it spent only Rs 11.17 crore of total Rs 1518.97 crore the percentage is calculated as 0.79%. another lowest is reported by Energy and Industry department on whom Government spent only Rs 696.18 of allocated Rs 13424.30 crore the per centage of which comes to 8.39%. Government has spent 39.18% on Cooperative 21.39% on Bahujan welfare 25.84% on Water Resources 25.16% on Public Works Department (PWD) 25.35% on Food and Civil Supplies.

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