15 yrs of Lalu vs 15 yrs of Nitish: Has healthcare in Bihar improved?

Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the ruling alliance is raking up the '15 years of Nitish versus 15 years of Lalu Yadav' debate. While the opposition is criticising the Nitish government for not talking about its own achievements, an expert opined that though services improved during the last 15 years, the government should have done much more.

Patna (Bihar):With the Assembly elections around the corner in Bihar, the ruling party and the opposition have been constantly attacking each other over a range of issues. The ruling alliance in particular, has been raking up the 'Nitish's 15 years vs Lalu's 15 years' debate.

In terms of healthcare, both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi have said that nothing substantial was achieved during the tenure of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi.

The Congress on the other hand, believes that the Nitish government has been in power for 15 years, and hence has no justification for counting the shortcomings of the previous government, which ruled the state over a decade ago.

Bihar Congress State President Madan Mohan Jha said that even after 15 years of Nitish Kumar being in power, the sad state of Bihar's healthcare services is for all to see. Even though Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi are blaming it on the 15 years of Lalu-Rabri, the public knows that the doctors are working without any resources whatsoever in the midst of the corona pandemic, he said, adding that the ruling alliance should talk about its achievements if it has any.

RJD taking sarcastic jibes at government

At the same time, RJD MLA Vijay Prakash attacked Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi, asking whether it was Lalu Prasad who filled the hospitals with water for the swimming fish. He also asked whether it was Lalu Prasad's fault that dogs were roaming around in hospitals.

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Despite ruling for 15 years, the people of the state struggle every day due to poor healthcare services, he said, adding that the present government has become completely dysfunctional and autocratic.

Health services have improved in Bihar: BJP

Meanwhile, the JDU's ally BJP denied the allegations of the opposition. BJP leader Ajit Chaudhary said that while on one hand, the number of medical colleges in the state was three during Lalu-Rabri regime, it has now increased to 15.

"An AIIMS hospital will be contructed in Darbhanga, and even the condition of primary health centres has become much better. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Central government, the poor people of the state are getting a lot of help," he said.

'15 years vs 15 years' is a wrong comparison: Expert

Professor DM Diwakar of Anugraha Narayan Sinha Research Institute has a different opinion on the comparison of 15 years versus 15 years. Diwakar believes that the state of health services has not improved much during the regime of Nitish-Modi.

"The way the ruling party is giving the slogan of '15 years versus 15 years' is utterly wrong. If Nitish Kumar compares his two-year tenure with his first 5-year term, then in many areas he will be proved to be lacking," he said.

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'Not as much work done as it should have'

DM Diwakar also said that though much work has been done during the Nitish government, it was still way less than the amount of work that should have been done in 15 years.

"The public chooses a government for 5 years, so comparisons should be made only for 5 years. In the coronavirus pandemic itself, the healthcare system of the Nitish government was completely exposed," he said.

Important healthcare statistics:

Infant mortality in Bihar

Maternal mortality in Bihar

Fertility rate in Bihar

Percentage of total deliveries in Bihar government hospitals

Patients per month in Bihar government hospitals

Developments in health department under Nitish Kumar:

During the 15-year rule of Nitish Kumar,11,000 health sub-centres were opened in the state, while five new medical colleges are also being opened.

The Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund was started from 2009. Under this, assistance is being given for the treatment of serious diseases for needy and poor patients. Special programs are also going on for the health and nutrition of children to overcome the serious problem of malnutrition.

Further, ensuring vaccination in the state under the "Muskan Ek Abhiyan" program is also being done. Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) was also formed in 2010. Under this, all medicines, equipment purchase and government hospitals and institutes in the state are constructed.

The state health committee and the Bihar State AIDS Control Committee was also formed during Nitish Kumar's rule.

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