Ranchi, February 26: In a scathing attack on the Jharkhand government’s flagship air ambulance service, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has raised serious allegations of irregularities and exploitation. Calling for an impartial investigation, Marandi questioned the scheme’s operations following a recent aviation mishap that exposed glaring flaws.
Marandi highlighted a disturbing case where the service provider refused subsidy for a patient with over 30% burn injuries, citing medical risks. Yet, after negotiations led to a higher fare, the same company approved the Delhi transfer. ‘This is blatant profiteering at the expense of vulnerable patients,’ he asserted.
The former Chief Minister demanded clarity on the 30% burn threshold for subsidies. ‘Was this arbitrary limit set after consulting medical experts? If air travel is unsafe beyond this, how can it be permitted for extra payment?’ he probed.
Launched on April 28, 2023, the service has a Rs 10 crore budget allocation but has barely reached the masses, Marandi claimed. He accused the provider of flouting norms and urged registering an FIR, blacklisting the firm if guilty, and auditing all collected fares for transparency.
As public faith erodes, Marandi’s call for accountability underscores the need for robust oversight in life-saving public schemes. The government now faces mounting pressure to respond.