Delhi Government sanctions Rs 168.58 crore to remodel 94 dispensaries into polyclinics
New Delhi, Sep 1 : The plan to remodel 94 dispensaries into polyclinics in the national capital got administrative approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 168.58 crore from the Delhi government, an official said on Saturday.
The Delhi Cabinet in July had approved the proposal for remodelling dispensaries into polyclinics in different areas of Delhi.
In a letter, Director General of Health Services Kirti Bhushan wrote to PWD's Engineer-in-Chief Rakesh Kumar Agrawal informing that a committee will be formed to monitor the remodelling work on the regular basis, the official said.
"The government has given administrative approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 168.58 crore to remodel 94 dispensaries into polyclinics across the national capital," the official added.
The cost includes the comprehensive planning and designing for construction of new blocks, additional floors and remodelling and upgration of the existing blocks.
In the letter, Bhusan also wrote: "The project will be completed as per the approved scope of work at the sanctioned cost within the stipulated period and no cost escalation will be allowed."
"Adequate provision will be made for maintenance and upkeep for five years after completion of work," Bhushan added.
The letter also said that the status report, to be maintained by the PWD, will be submitted periodically to the planning, finance and health departments to monitor the work regularly.
The aim of the remodelling of the dispensaries was to reorganise health care facilities. The polyclinics will be attached to various Delhi government hospitals.
The polyclinics will act as satellite centres for outdoor specialised medical treatment centres of these hospitals.
Medical superintendents of hospitals to which the polyclinics will be attached will be the overall in-charge of these polyclinics.
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11 Indian nationals charged in US over visa fraud
New York (PTI): Eleven Indian nationals, living illegally in the US, have been charged with visa fraud for conspiring to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience shops, according to US federal prosecutors.
Authorities said the suspects are accused of organising fake robberies for the purpose of allowing the store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications towards getting a Green Card.
Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, Maheshkumar Patel, 36, Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, Dipikaben Patel, 40, Rameshbhai Patel, 52, Amitabahen Patel, 43, Ronakkumar Patel, 28, Sangitaben Patel, 36, Minkesh Patel, 42, Sonal Patel, 42 and Mitul Patel, 40 have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
They all were living unlawfully in various US states such as Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio.
Dipikaben was deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Justice Department said in a statement.
Jitendrakumar, Maheshkumar, Sanjaykumar, Amitabahen, Sangitaben and Mitul were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday.
Rameshbhai, Ronakkumar, Sonal and Minkesh were arrested and made their initial appearances in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere.
It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to falsely claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for a U non-immigration status (U Visa).
A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. The U visa offers an immigrant work authorisation and a path to a Green Card within 5–10 years.
Authorities said that in the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks or the owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video.
The clerks or the store owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling the police to report the “crime.”
The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Rambhai to participate in the scheme. In turn, Rambhai allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
Rambhai, the “robber,” and the getaway driver were previously charged and convicted.
The 11 defendants charged on Friday are alleged to have either arranged with the organiser to set up each robbery, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a “victim.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of USD 250,000.
