Thiruvananthapuram: Faced with severe criticism for buying spectacles worth Rs 49,000 and getting it reimbursed from the state exchequer, Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan has now come up with the novel idea of getting health insurance for the entire Assembly, which can cover all medical expenses of the legislators.
At a time when the state is experiencing a critical financial crisis, Sreeramakrishnan’s spectacles could prove to be quite costly for the state government that footed the bill for the glasses.
On Monday, the Speaker suggested that “if an all-party meeting agrees, the Assembly can go for a health insurance” for all.
Sreeramakrishnan’s medical reimbursement bill of Rs 4,25,594 was soon followed by a similar bill filed by state finance minister Thomas Isaac and health minister KK Shylaja.An RTI reply has revealed that Isaac had spent Rs 120,048 lakh for a 14-day treatment at a private Ayurveda hospital and got it reimbursed. Similarly, Shylaja had purchased glasses worth Rs 28,000 and got it reimbursed.
The RTI reply came to the fore days after Isaac had urged all government departments to tighten their belts and restrict expenses in the wake of the acute financial crunch faced by the state.
Meanwhile, the opposition BJP rapped the ruling LDF government over the alleged extravaganza of its ministers and members.
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