DEOLALI CAMP: The central government has finally given its approval to set up a wellness dispensary in Nashik. A fund for the purpose has been sanctioned by the finance ministry. This will benefit about one lakh working and retired employees, officers of the central government. The wellness center at Nashik has been approved while resolving the health-related issues of central and retired officers, employees and their families in the district.
Representatives of the Central Employees’ Union met MP Hemant Godse and expressed their gratitude for resolving the issue which had been lingering for years. Despite the large number of employees in central service besides the retired officers and employees in the district, as Nashik was not included in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), there was no wellness center available in the city under the welfare center.
As a result, the staff and their families had to travel to Pune, Mumbai for treatment, and the hospital expenses there had to be paid in cash. After that, they used to get partial refund from the government. For this, pensioners and service officers, employees had to make frequent trips to Mumbai, Pune. As a result, pension holders were facing inconvenience and financial difficulties.
On this backdrop, Manoj Bagul, President of Artillery Static Workshop Civil and Employees Union, U N Nagpure, Kiran Marathe, M K Sheikh and others met MP Godse last year on behalf of various delegations of pensioners to set up a ‘Wellness Center’ under Health Welfare Center in Nashik. As soon as it was realized that the demands of the central employees as well as the pensioners were fair and justifiable, MP Godse had started pursuing the Centre for setting up a ‘wellness center’ in Nashik.
Throughout the year, Godse met Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman from time to time and convinced them of the need, importance and necessity of a Wellness Center in Nashik. MP Godse had raised this issue in Parliament from time to time. The issues raised by Godse were taken up by the Union Ministry of Health as they were appropriate and necessary.
“There are about 26,000 retired families in the service of the central government in the district and the wellness center will benefit about one lakh central employees, pensioners as well as their families for health treatment. Due to the wellness center, officers and employees will not have to go to Pune, Mumbai for treatment. Employees and pensioners of Centre’s GST I-Tax department, note press, BSNL, post account, military, security forces, army hospital, army school, military dairy firm, army aviation school, Kendriya Vidyalaya administration, metro logistics department, television, All India Radio, project officers (DRDO), Railways, EMU, Gandhinagar press, Air Force MES, and statistical workshop will get the benefit of the wellness center.” – MP Hemant Godse
