Health Dept focusing on reforms, says Karnataka Minister Rao
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said his department was focused on presenting the ground reality and improving healthcare delivery, even as the opposition accused the government of "mismanagement and internal conflicts".
Responding to a discussion on the functioning of the Health Department in the assembly, the Minister said the government had undertaken several reforms and programmes to strengthen public healthcare and expand access across the state.
“I am not here to say that everything they said is wrong, nor am I here to counter their arguments point by point. I will simply present the ground reality—what the situation is, what is happening, and what we have done,” he said.
Rao rejected allegations levelled by the opposition that the Health department was in decline and instead highlighted initiatives such as the Griha Arogya Yojana, under which around 51 lakh households were covered, and large-scale screening and treatment programmes for diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer were facilitated.
He said lakhs of patients were currently under treatment for various conditions and emphasised preventive healthcare and early diagnosis.
The minister also cited the implementation of day-care chemotherapy centres in all district hospitals, enabling patients to access treatment closer to home.
Under schemes such as Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi, he said life-saving injections costing up to Rs 25,000 were being provided free of cost, helping save around 18,000 lives.
Dialysis services had also been overhauled, with 7.39 lakh cycles conducted so far and thousands of patients receiving regular treatment.
The minister noted that the Asha Kiran programme, recognised by the World Health Organization, had led to the establishment of 393 vision centres, benefiting lakhs of people through free eye check-ups and surgeries. The Suchi scheme had been revived to provide sanitary pads and menstrual cups to women.
On disease control, Rao said dengue-related deaths have been brought down to zero in 2025 through preventive measures and community outreach, while fatalities due to KFD had also declined significantly.
He also highlighted progress in reducing maternal mortality, stating that the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) had declined from 62 to 48, with a target of bringing it down to 30 by 2028. Measures such as risk identification, mandatory hospital stays, and strengthening of taluk hospitals with specialist doctors were being implemented.
“We are not shutting down facilities arbitrarily but reorganising them based on performance and geographical needs,” he said, adding that the aim was to ensure “guaranteed” healthcare services at all times.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka accused the government of "failing" to manage the Health Department, alleging internal conflicts among senior officials and shortages of medicines.
“The Health Department has become unhealthy. First, resolve the internal quarrels among officials and then improve the department,” Ashoka said.
He also raised concerns over the functioning of the department, claiming that the officials are not attending office for months and alleging lapses in medicine supply and administration.
He questioned the transfer of doctors from Community Health Centres and sought clarity on budgetary allocations and expenditure on healthcare.
Ashoka further alleged that doctors had complained about increased workload and declining services at local health centres following transfers, and urged the government to reverse such decisions.
The Minister, however, maintained that reforms were aimed at better utilisation of resources and strengthening healthcare infrastructure, particularly at the taluk level, to ensure timely and quality medical services for the public.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
