‘Why have children you can’t care for?’: Beed girl made to leave ambulance over diesel money

The medical officer of the Dindrud Primary Health Centre in Majalgaon taluka, Dr Nilesh Narayan Dhakne, has been relieved of his duties and is facing disciplinary action after a viral video showed a family being asked to leave a government ambulance because they could not pay for diesel. The incident occurred on September 29 when 6th-grade student Seema Solanki fainted at the PHC.

The family, consisting of four children, was shifted to another hospital for further treatment. However, when the ambulance staff demanded payment for diesel, the family, unable to afford it, was asked to leave the vehicle. The grandmother in the video pleaded, "Where am I supposed to get money for diesel? How am I supposed to look after four children?"

The hospital staff responded with, "If you don't have money to feed them or the means to care for them, why did you produce four children?" The Zilla Parishad health department confirmed the family was made to get off the ambulance due to demands for diesel money. Beed District Health Officer Dr Ulhas Gandal stated that Dr Dhakne has been relieved of his charge, with his posting temporarily shifted to the DHO office. He emphasized that regular monthly payments, a fuel card, and fuel mapping are being implemented.