'Funds under Swasthya Sathi misused during RG Kar protests'

Targeted a section of agitating junior doctors of government medical colleges and hospitals who had allegedly attended patients in private healthcare facilities under the state government scheme during the protest movements for more than two months, ignoring their duty at public healthcare services

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the funds allotted for the state government's Swasthya Sathi scheme have been misused during the protest movements against the rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital on August 9.

Miss Banerjee, while addressing the question hour at the state legislative Assembly today, said that an inquiry has been started against those who have misused the funds under the scheme. The state government would take strong action against them, she said, adding, "You will have to keep in mind that these are public money."

"You took money without doing your duty. We are investigating the irregularities," she said.

Miss Banerjee today said there was a surge in expenses under the 'Swasthya Sathi' scheme across the state during protests against the rape-murder of the doctor at the RG Kar Hospital. "At that time (during the RG Kar protests), there was a surge in the expenditure under the scheme. We are conducting an enquiry. The culprits will be punished," she said at the Assembly.