Seventeen-year-old Sunil Pungati, from a remote area of Gadchiroli, was admitted to a private hospital in Nagpur due to his critical health condition. Since his parents were very poor, Sunil’s mother had to sell her mangalsutra to raise 1 lakh rupees for the initial hospital expenses. However, as more money was needed for the treatment and they had no other resort left at their disposal, Sunil’s parents were in deep trouble. The plight of Sunil’s parents, struggling to arrange money for the treatment of their child, came to the attention of Devendra Fadnavis. He immediately ordered that Sunil’s treatment be covered through the Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Fund, Maharashtra. This prompt action to help citizens in critical conditions has become typical of CM Fadnavis, with many such examples in the past.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli, Devendra Fadnavis, once again stood up to the need of the common man. Sunil Pangati, a resident of Bhamaragadh, a remote village in Gadchiroli, fell critically ill. His parents took him to a private hospital in Nagpur for better treatment. However, the treatment was very expensive, beyond the means of Sunil’s parents, which forced his mother to sell her mangalsutra to pay for her son’s treatment. The money from this sale and some loans were only enough to deposit Rs 1 lakh to the hospital to start the treatment.
With no money left for their food and basic necessities and more expenses for treatment looming, Sunil’s parents were at their wits’ end. Their hope to save their son’s life seemed impossible with the need for money mounting and no one around to help. But then, luck smiled at them.
Learning about Sunil’s condition and the grim situation his parents were undergoing, through a letter from Sunil’s father, Ramesh Pungati, Devendra Fadnavis immediately discussed the matter with Rameshwar, the head of the Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Fund, and directed him to arrange for Sunil’s treatment through the fund.
Sunil’s father wrote, “My son is on a ventilator, and we don’t know if he will survive. The doctors are treating him, but we have no more money left for further treatment. As the district guardian minister, please take guardianship of my son and help him recover.” Moved by the desperate plea of this helpless parent, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis jumped to action.
The mangalsutra, sold out for the treatment, will be returned!
When Sunil was admitted to a private hospital in Nagpur for better treatment, his mother had to sell her mangalsutra, and his father had to take out a loan at a high interest rate to meet the initial requirement of an Rs 1 lakh deposit in the hospital. But now, with the entire cost of the treatment approved under the Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Fund, the Rs 1 lakh deposit will be refunded to Sunil’s parents. This will enable them to buy back the mangalsutra. This help from Devendra Fadnavis has brought great relief to Sunil’s family.
Devendra Fadnavis is a different kind of chief minister. Despite his numerous engagements, he took up this matter with utmost urgency and acted in a manner not to waste any time in the treatment of critically ill Sunil Pungate. Moreover, not only did he ensure immediate financial assistance for Sunil’s treatment, but he also made sure that Sunil’s mother got back her mangalsutra that she sold in distress. This prompt decision by Devendraji has not only boosted the chance of Sunil’s recovery but also reduced the stress and pain of the entire family. And there are many similar instances in the past when Devendraji stood by the critically ill patients and their families. In fact, the creation of CM’s Medical Relief Fund in Maharashtra was his brainchild, to provide the best and prompt treatment to seriously ill patients from poor and marginal sections.
Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Cell reform: Hassle-free and prompt assistance for the critical patients
After becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2014, Devendra Fadnavis established a Medical Relief Cell within the state government. This cell aims to ensure that those in need receive medical assistance as quickly as possible. As a result, numerous needy patients have received timely help. Previously, patients’ families had to travel to the state secretariat and overcome hurdles of paperwork, administrative procedures, and the overcrowding to avail themselves of this scheme. This would often take a significant amount of time when timely intervention was crucial to save a seriously ill patient’s life. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took significant steps to decentralize and streamline this process by establishing a ‘Chief Minister’s Relief Cell’ in all district collector offices across the state. Through these cells, needy citizens receive the necessary financial assistance for the treatment of serious illnesses. This enables timely assistance to the patients at the district level itself.
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