Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and National General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Ashok Gehlot, said on Monday (June 30, 2025) that the Chiranjeevi scheme introduced by the Congress in Rajasthan will be implemented in Bihar as soon as the INDIA bloc forms the government.
He promised free treatment up to ₹25 lakh. Mr. Gehlot was addressing the media at the Congress office in Patna. He slammed the Bihar government, alleging that the health system in the state is in bad condition.
Citing the CAG report, he said that Bihar’s poor health system has been exposed.
“As soon as the INDIA bloc government is formed in Bihar, the Chiranjeevi scheme will be implemented on the lines of the Congress scheme in Rajasthan, and people of all income groups will be given free treatment up to ₹25 lakh in government and private hospitals,” Mr. Gehlot said.
Right to Health Act
He pointed out that the Right to Health Act was created in Rajasthan and had provisions for free treatment in all emergency situations. Mr. Gehlot proudly said that the Congress government in Rajasthan had reduced common people’s burden and made insurance coverage accessible.
Chiranjeevi Bima Yojana included health insurance of ₹10 lakh and accident insurance of ₹5 lakh. This scheme provided free medicines for 5 days before hospitalisation and 15 days after discharge.
Speaking on the poor condition of health facilities in Bihar, Mr. Gehlot said that the state is beset by serious diseases, and there are neither hospitals, nor proper doctors, nor medicines in Bihar.
Referencing the recent CAG report, Mr. Gehlot said, “There is a huge shortage of medical staff here. Out of the total 59,168 sanctioned posts, only 23,851 posts are filled, which means 60% posts are vacant. Similarly, 89% of posts for Ayush doctors are vacant. There is a huge shortage of paramedical staff, and 79% of posts are vacant.”
He further said, “There is a huge shortfall in specialist doctors. There are only 1,580 specialist doctors against 5,081 posts. There is a shortage of health sub-centres, PHCs and sub-divisional hospitals. There is also a shortage of beds in district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, and primary health centres.”
Accompanied by Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru and Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar, the former CM stressed that Bihar faces a huge shortage of lab equipment ranging from 25% to 100%, and only 54% of lab technicians are employed.
Budgetary apathy
Speaking on the negligence in the budget, he claimed that out of ₹69,790 crore from 2016 to 2022, only 69% has been spent by the Bihar government, and ₹21,743 crore remained unused.
Mr. Allavaru also attacked the condition of the health system, alleging that the present government has made Bihar a sick state.
“The people of Bihar are experiencing a huge failure of health services. The government of Trouble Engine in Bihar has put the health system in the ICU,” Mr. Allavaru said.
Bihar Congress chief alleged even emergency patients do not get beds and proper health care in PMCH (Patna Medical College and Hospital), the biggest hospital in the state.
On Sunday (June 29, 2025), senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Digvijay Singh took a dig at the Bihar CM, saying that the education system was ruined in the state.
