CCH BILL: B’SWAR MP QUESTIONS TIMING IN PARL

Participating in the debate in the Lok Sabha recently, BJD’s Baleswar MP Rabindra Kumar Jena questioned the timing of bringing the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
“When allegation of misappropriation and corruption against members and president of Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) were made in 2016, the Government had enough time of one and a half years to bring amendments through Parliament. So, what is the intent, and why the legislative power has been misused time and again,” Jena said.
Notably, a Bill seeking to replace the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) with a Board of Governors and aimed at bringing accountability and quality in homeopathy education system was passed by the Lok Sabha.
The bill provides that the Central Council will be superseded by the Central Government for the period of one year and in the interim period of one year; the Board of Governors will act as the Central Council of Homeopathy.
During the debate, the Opposition members questioned the ordinance route taken by the Government to bring the amendment in the 1973 Homoeopathic Council Act and “undermine” Parliament’s powers and asked it to explain the “extraordinary situation” which compelled them to do so. Jena also stressed on the need to give recognition to alternative medical science like homeopathy and its doctors despite the fact, every year 63 million people in the country cannot afford medical expenses due to poverty.
Replying to the debate on Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2018, Aaayush Minister Sripad Yesso Naik assured the Lower House that the Government would come up with comprehensive bills to promote homeopathy, Ayurveda and Siddha.