Opening a new front in its clash with the Kerala Congress (M), the Kerala Congress led by P.J. Joseph has announced a State-wide protest demanding the reinstatement of the Karunya Benevolent Fund, a flagship healthcare assistance scheme introduced during the previous UDF government.
As part of the campaign, the party’s youth wing, Kerala Youth Front (KYF), will launch a series of protests across the State starting July 15, with a State-level inauguration in Kottayam to be led by party chairman P.J. Joseph. Subsequent protests will be held in Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Thrissur and Kozhikode.
A meeting of the KYF State leadership demanded that the LDF government take immediate steps to fully restore the Karunya Benevolent Fund, which was successfully implemented to ensure free treatment for economically disadvantaged families but was later discontinued under the current regime.
“The present crisis, where even government hospitals are denying treatment to patients, must be taken seriously. With doctors prescribing medicines and surgical equipment from private outlets, patients across Kerala are forced to bear huge out-of-pocket expenses. It’s an alarming situation that demands urgent government intervention,” the organisation said in a statement.
The KYF also urged the government to address the deplorable conditions in government hospitals, particularly in medical colleges, where patients are often forced to lie on the floor due to a lack of beds and basic infrastructure.
Incidentally, the Karunya Benevolent Fund was originally introduced by K.M. Mani, the founder of Kerala Congress (M), during his tenure as Finance Minister in the UDF government. The scheme aimed to provide financial assistance for healthcare expenses, with an annual upper limit of ₹5 lakh per eligible family.
Commenting on the latest campaign, a veteran Kerala Congress leader said that more than targeting the LDF, this movement is aimed at the Kerala Congress (M) itself.
“This is our opportunity to highlight how a visionary scheme conceptualised by K.M. Mani, the patriarch of Kerala Congress, is being undermined by a government backed by his own party,” he explained.
Published – July 09, 2025 07:25 pm IST
