A political controversy has sparked in Bihar following reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders at a community kitchen within a government health facility in Begusarai. The incident occurred at a Community Health Centre (CHC) in Bachwara block, where the ‘Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi’ allegedly could not provide cooked meals due to the lack of LPG cylinders.
This led to pregnant and recently delivered women at the facility having to consume basic food items like ‘chura’ (flattened rice) instead of proper meals. Bihar Leader of the Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticized the state government, accusing it of failing to ensure essential facilities for women and newborns.
Tejashwi Yadav, in a statement on his official social media account, blamed the government for neglecting the needs of new mothers and infants due to the absence of gas cylinders at ‘Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi’. He highlighted the lack of nutritious food for post-delivery care and raised concerns about the prevalence of anaemia among women in Bihar.
The controversy emerges amidst the Bihar government’s emphasis on significant healthcare improvements. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary recently announced measures to enhance the healthcare system, such as expanding specialized services in district hospitals and accelerating the construction of AIIMS Darbhanga. Nishant Kumar, the new Bihar Health Minister, aims to enhance grassroots healthcare delivery.
Despite the Opposition’s serious apprehensions regarding the reported incident, an official response from local health authorities regarding the LPG shortage and food provisions at the CHC is still pending. This incident underscores the challenges in last-mile service delivery, particularly in maternal healthcare, even as the state government progresses with broader systemic reforms.
