From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Hubballi, Dec 14: Launching the establishment of Namma Clinics in all districts on Wednesday, December 14, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has promised to provide necessary financial allocations for upgrading all the Namma Clinics to ensure medical treatment to the people in next year’s budget.

Speaking to media persons in Hubballi airport before attending the function, he said the state government had taken the novel initiative to prove medical treatment to the poor by launching Namma Clinics.

With the opening of 114 Namma Clinics in the first phase on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said a total of 438 Namma Clinics will be established by the end of January and depending on their performance steps will be taken to provide additional services. Even inclusion of telemedicine will be considered.

The chief minister said the union home minister Amit Shah has convened a meeting of the chief ministers of Karnataka and Maharashtra with the view to ensure peace and protect the law and order situation.

“As far as the border row is concerned, our stand is very clear and firm. We will adhere to our stand and take all steps to present our case legally, administratively as well as politically,” he declared.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the border dispute in view of the matter being taken up in the Supreme Court.

At the same time, the Chief Minister said several reports have come before the reorganization of States and the award has become final after the enactment of the law.

The apex court has not taken any decision on the maintainability of Maharashtra’s petition challenging the Reorganisation of States. “If we go strictly according to the Constitution, the petition is non-maintainable. But it is left to the courts to take a final decision,” he added.

Ayushmati Clinics for women: Sudhakar

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar, who also participated in the function for the token launch of the Namma Clinics initiative, said the State Government will be starting Ayushmati Clinics in January and they will be exclusively catering to women. This is a special offer for women, he said.

All the Namma Clinics will be providing free service to the people, Dr Sudhakar said.

The health minister said the ruling BJP believes in “One nation-One ration card; one nation-one tax” and now “one country-one health card’’ for providing Ayushman cards.

The registration of 1.20 Ayushman cards has been completed and the programme for the distribution was to be held. However, the Union Health Minister has called to inform that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself wants to distribute the cards and therefore the programme has been postponed.

Dr Sudhakar explained the salient features and the services offered by the Namma Clinics.