Corruption

Group Mediclaim Policy: Guv orders foreclosure of contract with Reliance, Anti-corruption bureau to initiate probe

Srinagar: Governor Satya Pal Malik has approved the foreclosure of the contract with M/S Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC) for implementing the Group Mediclaim Health Insurance Policy for the employees and pensioners in the State.

According to the Government spokesman, ever since sanction was accorded to the implementation of the insurance scheme by the Government, doubts were expressed in various quarters, including a cross-section of the society and the media, about the credibility of the process.

“This has cast a shadow on the entire process followed in the finalization of the scheme,” he said adding that the allegations flying around have not stopped but are pouring in the media about the selection of the Insurance Company, more so the selection of the intermediary (Broker).

Earlier, the Malik had told a TV channel that the contract was full of frauds. 

“I studied it myself. The issue is that the government had not issued any tenders. A private company had asked for tenders on behalf of another company. Those bids were not displayed anywhere on our (government’s) website. The tenders were changed to suit a particular company,” Malik said in the interview.

“It was full of frauds. I discussed the issue with the chief secretary and made it clear that such things can’t happen in my presence. So we decided to cancel it”.

The spokesperson said that as the Governor’s Administration is mandated to provide good, transparent, fair and employee-friendly governance, it was felt that it would be difficult to proceed ahead with the implementation of the scheme.

“Taking a well-informed view on all aspects and the concerns about the process involved, the Government is of the opinion that in the interest of the government and for enhanced transparency, it would be judicious not to proceed further in the contract with the insurance firm,” he said and added that therefore, a decision has been taken to foreclose the contract.

He said the matter has been referred to the newly established Anti-Corruption Bureau for examining the entire process to see whether it was conducted in a transparent and fair manner.

“Keeping in view the importance of the matter, the Government has directed the Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau to personally look into the matter rather than entrusting it to someone else,” the spokesman said adding that action would then be taken on the findings of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Earlier, MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami had alleged that the insurance scheme has been rolled out to benefit a particular corporate company. 

“What criterion was followed to select the particular company is not known to anybody which has raised serious doubts over the scheme, for which the employees have to shell out Rs 8777 as annual premium,” he had said in a statement.

Moreover, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah had also said that an inquiry needs to be ordered to find who was behind this.

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