Gehlot writes to Raj CM Bhajanlal over pending payments, alleges financial crisis
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday, 2 July wrote an 'Urgent'-marked letter to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, alleging a sweeping breakdown of the state's payment system that has left employees, pensioners, patients, contractors, and accident victims waiting indefinitely for dues owed to them. Gehlot described the situation as an unprecedented financial and administrative crisis gripping Rajasthan.
Scope of the Alleged Payment Crisis
Gehlot stated in his letter that the disruption is not limited to any single department — it cuts across virtually every section of society. He alleged that payments worth crores of rupees under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) to private hospitals, diagnostic centres, and medicine vendors have been pending for months. The situation, he claimed, had grown so severe that the State Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognizance of the matter, treating it as a human rights concern.
Several hospitals have reportedly threatened to either reduce services under the scheme or withdraw from their Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the state government. Employees and pensioners, he said, are being compelled to pay out of pocket for medical treatment despite the promise of cashless healthcare, with reimbursements delayed indefinitely.
Accident Insurance Scheme Dues Unpaid in Hundreds of Cases
Gehlot also flagged delays under the Chief Minister Chiranjeevi/Ayushman Accident Insurance Scheme, which entitles eligible families to ₹5 lakh in the event of accidental death. He alleged that in hundreds of cases, payments have not been released to beneficiaries despite formal approval, causing acute distress to grieving families awaiting compensation.
Retired Employees and Social Security Pensioners Affected
The letter drew attention to delayed post-retirement settlements for government employees, including GPF, group insurance, gratuity, and leave encashment — dues that Gehlot described as earned entitlements being withheld for months after retirement. He further alleged that social security pension disbursements have been delayed across several districts, affecting elderly citizens, widows, and differently-abled beneficiaries.
Infrastructure Contractors Forced to Go Public
Gehlot noted that treasury-cleared bills for infrastructure work — covering roads, drinking water supply, and other public works — remain unpaid. Small contractors, he said, have resorted to issuing public advertisements to draw attention to their pending dues, with the delay severely impacting livelihoods and employment on the ground.
Gehlot's Demand and What Comes Next
Calling the payment crisis 'not merely administrative negligence but a question of dignity and livelihood for lakhs of families,' Gehlot urged Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to take prompt, decisive action to restore the payment system across all departments and schemes. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan is yet to formally respond to the letter. How the Sharma administration addresses these allegations — and whether an independent audit of pending dues is ordered — will determine the political and administrative fallout in the weeks ahead.