A recurring joke is that government teachers, earning substantial salaries, send their own children to private schools where teachers are paid significantly less. This reflects a deterioration in the state of government education that was not present before independence. During that era, national leaders did not graduate from private institutions. However, after independence, the growth of private schools led even government employees to enroll their children in them.
Ten years ago, on August 18, 2015, Justice Sudhir Agarwal of the Allahabad High Court had ruled that all government employees, including politicians and ministers, should send their children to government schools. He advocated for this to be a mandatory requirement. However, the Chief Minister at the time chose to ignore this advice. Justice Agarwal believed that this would have revolutionized government schools. If this advice had been taken seriously, the current poor state of government schools might have been avoided. Now, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is considering closing down many primary schools, likely due to the dominance of private schools.
With the absence of government schools, parents would inevitably enroll their children in private institutions. While private schools may not always provide the best education, they often maintain stricter discipline and assign ample homework, thereby compelling students to study.
The healthcare system faces similar issues. Every district has government hospitals, primary health centers, and community service centers, yet they often lack doctors and essential medicines. Patients frequently need to undergo tests outside these facilities, leading families to seek care in private hospitals. Private hospitals may subject patients to numerous unnecessary tests, resulting in substantial financial burdens. The government’s Ayushman health cards are in place, but the government has not ensured that these are accepted by most private hospitals. Moreover, the quality of care in private hospitals is not guaranteed. Patients might face financial losses and receive inadequate care. Private hospitals often lack compassionate management practices.
In a government supposedly focused on public welfare, where is the welfare of the public? Governments worldwide that prioritize public well-being provide free medical treatment. Citizens generally accept the high taxes required if education and healthcare are free. Even without considering Western models, Bhutan, a neighboring country, provides free healthcare. Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Spain, Taiwan, and Cuba also offer free treatment. In Brazil, even foreign nationals can receive free treatment in government hospitals. Healthcare in the USA is not free; it is expensive, but often of high quality. The USA ranks first in medical education.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently highlighted the concerning state of education and healthcare, which he believes are driven by commercial interests rather than service. He noted that while there are many educational institutions and hospitals, they are often inaccessible to the general public. His concerns are valid, but resolving this requires action. The current government is led by the BJP.
Responding to Bhagwat’s statement, the Congress has criticized the BJP. However, the commercialization of these services has been a trend across political parties. Ashok Gehlot, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, implemented the Chiranjeevi Health Scheme, which offered free treatment up to 25 lakh rupees for every resident of the state. Families from EWS categories were exempt from premiums. Those ineligible for pensions or government healthcare could access the scheme by paying an annual fee of 850 rupees. However, this scheme was discontinued after the change in government. No similar scheme has been implemented in other states.
While education and healthcare are state subjects, the central government could initiate programs benefiting the entire nation, potentially through additional taxes. This could standardize education levels across the country. While private institutions should continue to operate, the government could monitor private services and restore government services. Immediate investigation of complaints is crucial. Recently, a judge from the Ghaziabad District Court passed away after undergoing a hernia operation at a private hospital. This incident emphasizes the need for strict monitoring of private healthcare, particularly in light of the potential for negligence. In the USA, hospitals may be expensive, but they can lose their license due to negligence.
What about the dream of Ram Rajya?
The commercialization of education and healthcare has become a significant concern, as highlighted by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The dream of Ram Rajya, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and focused on accessible fundamental rights, particularly education and healthcare, remains unfulfilled. According to Tulsi Das, Ram Rajya is a state devoid of sorrow and suffering, which often results from the lack of access to these essential services.
