New Delhi: After coming under intense media scrutiny for her role as in-charge of Delhi government’s Mohalla Clinic project, Delhi's Health Minister Satyendra Jain’s daughter today resigned from her post.
The 26-year-old made it to the headlines after reports emerged that she was at the helm of affairs of the project, which was announced last year by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The AAP Minister's daughter was not just overseeing the Mohalla Clinic project but was also designated as advisor to the Health Secretary-cum-mission director of the National Health Mission.
While defending the decision regarding his daughter’s appointment, Jain had yesterday said that “she has not been provided any special facilities by the government in lieu of her services”.
“Saumya Jain is not being provided any facility from the government and she is working as a volunteer. Saumya has been involved with me in the work on the Mohalla Clinic project from much earlier,” he said.
A mohalla clinic as envisioned by the Aam Aadmi Party government, is different from the government dispensary. While a dispensary costs about Rs 3 crore to set up, a Mohalla Clinic can be set up with just Rs 20 lakh.
The Delhi government uses pre-fabricated, semi-permanent portable cabins that can be assembled anywhere for these clinics.
These Mohalla Clinics are the first level of the Delhi government’s "three-tier public health roadmap" to make healthcare accessible to all, and to reduce crowding at government hospitals. Since the plan was introduced last year, 100 clinics have been opened.
