Kolkata, Oct 27: Demanding a white paper on the health department's 'dismal' performance after several deaths in state-run hospitals in West Bengal, opposition Congress today asked Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee to temporarily take over the Health portfolio from Surjya Kanta Mishra to regain the people's confidence. "A white paper should be brought out by the state government detailing the number of child deaths and funds utilised in child care in the last three plan periods," Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha P R Dasmunshi told reporters here. "The Chief Minister should take over Health after removing Mishra, who is overburdened with Panchayat And Rural Development portfolios, to bring back the people's confidence," he said. Dasmunshi alleged that the state government had failed to utilise 35 per cent of the total allocated funds under last three plans particularly in the health and education sectors. He demanded a high-power committee to ascertain why the plan allocations during the last three plan periods were not fully utilised.
His party, he said, would urge Governor Viren J Shah to ascertain the state's failure in health and education sectors.

PCC Chief Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday announced movements against the 'poor healthcare system' under the left front Government in the state and said it would observe a day's hunger-strike on November 10.

Bureau Report