AMMA MEDICAL SHOP BY AMMA OUR CHIEF MINISTER OF TAMILNADU

Farmers peeved, most welcome healthcare initiatives

Feb 14, 2014, 04.56AM IST TNN[ R Gokul ]Times of India



TRICHY: The state budget for 2014-15 evoked mixed response from public with the announcement of low-cost medical shops receiving the maximum cheers. However, farmer groups in the region feel they have been given a short shrift by the state government, though they welcomed an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore as crop loan for farmers. Traders heaved a sigh of relief as the budget spared them of taxes.

Puliyur Nagarajan, state vice-president of Congress' agriculture wing, said demands of coconut and banana farmers were ignored. "The state government provided compensation to drought-hit paddy farmers last year. But the plight of other farmers has been ignored in the budget, though they were also affected by drought. It seems that our cry fell on deaf ears," he rued.

Though, the state government announced a few schemes for farmers, it should monitor its implementation, Nagarajan said.

The farming community feels state budget has accorded low priority to agriculture, with Bharatiya Kisan Sangam terming it as 'useless' for farmers. "The state government should give more importance to the agriculture sector. But we welcome hike in crop loan allocation from Rs 3,600 crore to Rs 5,000 crore and the announcement to transform waste land to arable land," said Ayilai Sivasuriyan of CPI's agriculture wing, while demanding higher outlay for crop insurance. "Many of the drought-affected farmers did not get crop insurance last year. So, it should have been increased," Sivasuriyan said.

"The budget has upset the farmers. If free rice was not provided by government, many would have died due to drought," said P Ayyakannu, the state vice-president of BKS, adding "The budget that allotted Rs 3,500 crore to cleanse the Coovum river in Chennai has allocated only Rs 110 crore to address water storage."

Meanwhile, higher allocation for healthcare has been welcomed by consumer groups. "Though health department got the necessary boost in the budget, unhygienic and corruption-ridden general hospitals and primary health centres are enemies of public health. So, quality service at the point of delivery must be ensured on priority," said S Pushpavanam, secretary of state consumer protection council.

Dr MA Aleem, the vice-principal of KAP Viswanatham government medical college, lauded the move to open Amma Medicals, medical shops on the lines of popular Amma Unavagam. "Rs 7,005 crore allotment to health sector is a boon to healthcare sector. Amma Medical shops will help medium and low-income people. As far as Trichy is concerned, we have to utilise the health facilities free of cost," said Dr Aleem.

Announcement of a super specialty hospital in Thanjavur has also been given the thumbs up. It will come up on the premises of Thanjavur medical college hospital at an outlay of Rs 150 crore. "People from many districts around Thanjavur will get specialty care. We have enough space on the premises to construct the block," said Dr Sankara Narayanan, medical superintendent of Thanjavur medical college hospital.

Though, the tax-less budget cheered the traders' fraternity, they said many demands were ignored. "We are happy that taxes have not been imposed. We expected that the government to allow payment of single tax. But it was not announced. Likewise, many other demands were also not addressed," said AM Vikramaraja, state president of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu Vikkiramaraja.