PATNA: The state government has been working actively on a novel move to compensate the loss of minimum wage suffered by kala-azar patients from poor and humble background admitted in various government hospitals of the state for treatment. The money required for the purpose would be raised with that provided from the CM Relief Fund (CMRF). Confirming this on Sunday, state health department secretary and Bihar State Health Society (BSHS) executive director Sanjay Kumar said, “Yes, it is under active consideration of the government and health department. The money for the purpose will come from the CMRF.” While the formal decision with regard to providing succour to kala-azar patients from humble background to make minimum wage loss compensation to them has not yet been taken, the process in this regard has already started and the details were being worked out. As Kumar put it, each poor kala-azar patient being treatment in government hospital and his or her attendant would get Rs 151 per day by way of compensation for the loss of minimum wage, since the person concerned, in normal circumstances, would have been engaged in some work to eke out a living. “The aim is two-fold: to help the patient and to induce the families concerned to admit patients in hospitals, which, in turn, will increase the reportage of hidden or unidentified kala-azar cases in the state,” Kumar said. Kumar said barring the seven districts of Bihar — Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Banka — having common border with Jharkhand, the remaining 31 districts have reported cases of kala-azar. However, of the 31, eleven districts, including Sitamarhi, Araria, Kishanganj, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran and Gopalganj, are most affected. (Source: TOI, May 14, 2012)
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