HC disappointed over government’s apathy to implement PM Garib Kalyan Scheme

Aurangabad, July 21:

The state government should take a decision to implement the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Scheme for the Corona warriors in the municipal councils and nagar parishads in the state by August 5, or the state chief secretary will have to be present personally for the next hearing of the petition, order the Aurangabad Division Bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice M G Mehere on Tuesday (July 20) to the government.

The bench has expressed disappointment that the state government, despite giving opportunities on five occasions to implement the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Scheme, has failed to implement it. The next hearing will be held on August 5.

The association of the municipal councils and nagar panchayats employees in the state has submitted a petition through Adv Amit S Deshpande requesting to implement the PMGKY immediately, which gave the safeguard of the Rs 50 lakh insurance to the family members of the employees who died due to Covid-19 while providing health services during the Corona crisis. Similarly, a request was made that these employees should be given complete safety kits, including sanitizers, hand gloves, PPE kits, and others.

The bench, on April 30, 2020, had issued orders to the respondent to implement the scheme. In all, opportunities were given on five occasions to the government to implement it. However, the government had not shown any interest in it and had not shown any sensitivity on this issue, the bench mentioned. Hence, the bench issued the aforesaid order. Assistant pleader S B Yawalkar appeared for the state government and Adv D G Nagod for the union government.