The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a scathing attack on the Haryana government on Saturday, following a deeply distressing incident in Faridabad. A laborer was compelled to carry his wife's body home on a humble vegetable cart, as a government ambulance was unavailable. This tragic event has sparked widespread outrage and brought the state's public healthcare system under intense scrutiny.
A Heartbreaking Incident Exposes Systemic Failures
The woman passed away during treatment at a civil hospital, leaving her family in a state of grief and financial distress. Unable to afford a private ambulance that demanded Rs 700, the family resorted to using a vegetable cart for the somber journey. Visuals of the couple's 12-year-old son tenderly covering his mother's body with a cloth circulated widely, evoking shock and sympathy across the nation.
AAP's Strong Condemnation of Government Insensitivity
AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhandha did not mince words, stating that the incident reflects the "insensitive mindset" of the BJP government and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. He emphasized that this episode lays bare the crumbling condition of Haryana's public healthcare infrastructure, which has failed its most vulnerable citizens.
Dhandha pointed out that the doctors' admission of having "no arrangement to transport a dead body" underscores a profound level of governmental irresponsibility. He revealed that the family had exhausted all their savings on medical treatment, only to face further hardship after the woman's death.
Financial Burden Extends to Last Rites
At the cremation ground, the grieving family was asked to pay ₹5,500 for the final rites, forcing them to seek donations from well-wishers. Dhandha poignantly questioned how, in Haryana, "even death has become a burden" for the impoverished. This highlights the multi-faceted nature of the crisis, where financial strain persists from treatment through to burial.
Systemic Issues in Haryana's Healthcare
Citing official statistics, Dhandha outlined severe systemic deficiencies:
- Thousands of positions in the health department remain vacant, leading to critical shortages of doctors, nurses, and hospital beds.
- Many ambulances are outdated or unfit for operation, compromising emergency services.
- The government is accused of showcasing hospitals on paper while failing to deliver tangible, life-saving services to the public.
AAP's Demands for Immediate Action
In response to this tragedy, the Aam Aadmi Party has put forth a series of demands aimed at overhauling the healthcare system:
- Fill all vacant posts in the health department to ensure adequate staffing.
- Expand and modernize hospital infrastructure to meet growing needs.
- Strengthen ambulance services with new, well-maintained vehicles to prevent such incidents in the future.
The party asserts that these measures are essential to restore dignity and access to healthcare for all residents of Haryana, particularly the economically disadvantaged.
