Former Minister K M Mani observe fast dharna

Activists of Kerala Congress (M, led by former Finance Minister K M Mani, today observed a daylong fast stir in front of state secretariat here to protest against the CPI-M led government's alleged move to scrap Karunya Health scheme.
Inaugurating the agitation, Mani said people of the state would not forgive the government for stopping the scheme, introduced by the previous Congress led UDF government, that assured a sum of Rs two lakh for the treatment of ailment of poor people.
KC-M, a parnter in the Congress led UDF, left the Front following differences with Congress last year and is now keeping an equi distance from LDF, UDF and also BJP in the state.

Jose K Mani, MP, former state minister and KC-M leader P J Joseph were among those took part in the stir.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac said that there was no plan to end the Karunaya health scheme now.
However, he said government plans to come out with a comprehensive health plan by integrating all the present schemes in future and 'that will done only with due care'.

'At present there is no plan to end any of the health schemes including the Karunaya', Issac told the state assembly while replying to a submission on the matter moved Monce Joseph of KC-M.

Issac also said that an amount of Rs 250 crore have been distibuted under the scheme this year.
The government has also sanctioned a sum of Rs 100 crore for the scheme, he said.
The assistance is provided from the Karunya Benevolent Fund to under-privileged people suffering from acute ailments like Cancer, Haemophilia, Kidney and Heart diseases and for Palliative Care.
The amount for the Fund is raised through lottery titled 'Karunya'.
The income generated through the sale of Karunya Lottery is exclusively devoted for extending financial assistance to the purpose.