Health Min likely to donate Chaturvedi's cash prize to RAN

 Over a month after Magsaysay Award winner Sanjiv Chaturvedi donated his cash prize to AIIMS, the Health Ministry has said that the money might be donated to Rastriya Arogya Nidhi, a scheme under which patients living below poverty line are provided with financial assistance.

The ministry also directed the administration of the prestigious institute to take necessary action in this regard.

Chaturvedi, a former AIIMS Chief Vigilance Officer, had recently expressed his anger over the delay in use of the money for financing the treatment of poor patients.

A letter signed by Health Ministry Director Amrit Lal to the AIIMS Director said, "...the matter has been considered in the Ministry in consultation with the Grants Division of the Ministry. It is observed that the said award money may be donated to Rastriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) which is registered as Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
"In view of the above, the institute is requested to take further necessary action in this matter," it said.

On September 21, Chaturvedi had written to the AIIMS Director donating the entire award money of around Rs 20 Lakhs to the AIIMS stating that the hospital may use the amount for providing financial assistance to poor patients, especially those suffering from different types of cancer.

However, on September 22, deputy director administration of AIIMS, V Srinivas, sent the proposal to the Health Ministry for examination under the relevant rules and to issue directions on further course of action.

In an angry note directed to Health Secretary B P Sharma on October 26, Chaturvedi had alleged that the entire episode reflected the "utter insensitivity" towards welfare of the poor patients and also their intense hatred against him.

"...I had donated the entire award money to the institute after depositing the income tax on the receipt of the said award money, vide communication dated September 21 to be used for financing the treatment of poor patients.

"However, showing their utter insensitivity, the Director and Deputy Director (Admin) instead of depositing the said amount into the institute account which could have done on the same day in view of both the accounts belonging to the same branch, unnecessarily referred the matter to the Ministry, though it was never done in case of any other private donor," Chaturvedi had said in his letter.

"During the discussions with your good self, it was proposed by your good self, that the said amount should be donated to the Rastriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) which is exclusively for the treatment of poor cancer patients.

"I have no objection to the said proposal of the amount donated by me into the institute account is ordered to be transferred by the Ministry into the said scheme, in compliance with all the statutory provisions including those related to income tax liabilities," the letter said.