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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 3:50:26 am

Procurement first, infrastructure later

Procurement at multiples of market price; equipment before infrastructure; no accountability Kolhapur: Maharashtra’s Medical Education and Public Health Departments have been on an aggressive drive to expand public healthcare infrastructure. Daily announcements of new centres, advanced equipment and expanded services have reassured citizens long denied dependable public healthcare. Procurement of medical equipment, medicines and surgical supplies is reportedly being undertaken at rates two to...

Procurement first, infrastructure later

Procurement at multiples of market price; equipment before infrastructure; no accountability Kolhapur: Maharashtra’s Medical Education and Public Health Departments have been on an aggressive drive to expand public healthcare infrastructure. Daily announcements of new centres, advanced equipment and expanded services have reassured citizens long denied dependable public healthcare. Procurement of medical equipment, medicines and surgical supplies is reportedly being undertaken at rates two to ten times higher than prevailing market prices. Basic economics dictates that bulk government procurement ought to secure better rates than private buyers, not worse. During the Covid-19 pandemic, equipment and consumables were procured at five to ten times the market rate, with government audit reports formally flagging these irregularities. Yet accountability has remained elusive. The pattern is illustrated vividly in Kolhapur. The Dean of Rajarshi Shahu Government Medical College announced that a PET scan machine worth Rs 35 crore would soon be installed at Chhatrapati Pramilaraje (CPR) Government Hospital for cancer diagnosis. But a comparable machine is available in the market for around Rs 6.5 crore. A senior cancer surgeon at a major cancer hospital in western Maharashtra, where a similar machine was recently installed, remarked that the gap between what his hospital paid and what the government is reportedly paying was enough to make one ‘feel dizzy’. The label of a ‘turnkey project’ does not adequately explain a price differential of this magnitude. High Costs CPR Hospital recently had a state-of-the-art IVF centre approved at a sanctioned cost of Rs 7.20 crore. Senior fertility specialists across Maharashtra note that even a modern IVF centre with advanced reproductive technology equipment typically costs between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 3 crore. The state’s outlay is reportedly approaching Rs 15 crore. Equipment arrived in June 2025 and lay idle for months owing to indecision about the site. Similarly, digital X-ray machines approved for CPR Hospital and a government hospital in Nanded; available in the market for roughly Rs 1.5 crore; were reportedly procured at Rs 9.98 crore per unit. Doctors in CPR’s radiology department, apprehensive about being drawn into potential inquiries, reportedly resisted accepting the equipment. One departmental head was transferred amid disagreements over signing off on the proposal. What’s Wrong These cases point to a deeper structural failure: Maharashtra has perfected what might be called the ‘equipment first, infrastructure later’ model. In any public hospital, the administrative sequence ought to be: identify space, create infrastructure, sanction specialist posts, and only then procure equipment. Compounding the procurement paradox is a parallel policy decision. On 20 December 2025, the state government decided to introduce radiology diagnostic services through a Public-Private Partnership model (PPP). Following this, an order issued on 6 February 2026 authorised private operators to provide PET scan, MRI and CT scan services at six government medical college hospitals: in Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj, Sangli, Mumbai and Baramati. CPR already has a 126-slice CT scan machine and a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, with another CT scan proposed. If the PPP arrangement proceeds, the hospital could simultaneously run one PET scan machine, two MRI scanners and three CT scan machines. Medical experts warn this could lead to unnecessary diagnostic testing simply to keep machines occupied, thus exposing patients to excess radiation while government-owned equipment gathers dust. A similar pattern was seen during the pandemic, when the Medical Education Department spent hundreds of crores on RT-PCR machines, only to award swab-testing contracts to a private company. Many of those machines remain unused today.

Navadurga: Nine Forms, One Divine Feminine in Every Woman

Each of Maa Durga’s nine forms reflects traits we see in women today—from warriors to nurturers, seekers to creators.

As the quiet reverence of Pitru Paksha fades—a fortnight dedicated to honouring ancestors and remembering departed souls—the air turns vibrant with the arrival of Maa Durga in her nine radiant forms—each a living symbol of strength, compassion, and renewal. Navratri, celebrated across India and among the diaspora worldwide, is not just a festival of lights and colours; it is a celebration of feminine energy, courage, and spiritual awakening.


Maa Durga-- whose nine avatars mirror the many roles and powers of today's modern women. Her nine manifestations offer timeless lessons for contemporary women striving to balance grace and grit.


The divine journey

According to the Puranas, Maa Durga descends from the Himalayas to her maternal home on Earth for nine sacred days, accompanied by celestial beings and blessings. Each day honours one of her nine forms, from the gentle Shailaputri to the fierce Kaalratri, culminating in Vijaya Dashami, when the Goddess returns to the heavens after vanquishing Mahi Asura, a demon symbolising the triumph of righteousness over evil.


Across India, the festival takes on regional colours: homes are decorated with flowers, devotees perform Garba and Dandiya dances, and traditional sweets are offered to the Goddess. Maa Durga’s sacred presence reminds us that her nine forms are reflected in today's modern women—each representing traits that are as relevant now as they were millennia ago.


1. Shailaputri (Daughter of the Mountain): Symbolises strength, grounding, and purity.

Today’s women: Just like Shailaputri stands firm, women today balance family, career, and responsibilities with unshakeable strength, often being the “mountain” for their loved ones.


2. Brahmacharini (The Seeker of Knowledge): Embodies penance, devotion, and wisdom.

Today’s women: They reflect their dedication to education, personal growth, and the discipline they put into building their careers, dreams, and values.


3. Chandraghanta (Warrior Goddess): Represents courage and fearlessness, always ready to fight injustice.

Today’s women: LikeChandraghanta, women take bold stands—be it against workplace inequality, social injustice, or protecting their families.


4. Kushmanda (The Cosmic Creator): Known as the creator of energy and vitality.

Today’s women: She signifies the life-giving force—women nurture families, shape societies, and bring positivity and creativity wherever they go.


5. Skandamata (Mother of Kartikeya): Symbolises motherhood, compassion, and selfless love.

Today’s women: As mothers, mentors, and carers, they balance nurturing with empowering, raising children and guiding others with strength and kindness.


6. Katyayani (The Warrior Form): Known as the slayer of evil and symbol of righteous anger.

Today’s women: They embody this when they say “enough”—fighting against harassment, corruption, or any form of exploitation, and standing up for themselves and others.


7. Kalaratri (The Fierce Protector): Represents destruction of darkness, fearlessness, and inner power.

Today’s women: The modern woman faces struggles head-on—be it illness, financial crisis, or personal battles—and emerges stronger, protecting their families and values.


8. Mahagauri (The Symbol of Peace & Purity): Stands for forgiveness, calmness, and clarity.

Today’s women: In their gentleness and patience, they bring harmony—balancing chaos at home or in the workplace, radiating peace and healing.


9. Siddhidatri (Bestower of Knowledge and Powers): Represents wisdom, spiritual fulfilment, and guiding energy.

Today’s women: As teachers, leaders, and guides, they share knowledge, mentor others, and empower society to grow with their wisdom.


In essence, Navadurga is not just about the Goddess—it is about the divine feminine that every woman carries within her. Each woman today embodies all nine forms—sometimes a warrior, sometimes a nurturer, sometimes a creator, sometimes a seeker of peace.


Let us all bow down to Shakti and invoke Shakti within.


Happy Navratri to all of you. May Goddess Durga shower her blessings on all of us.


Jai Mata Di


(The writer is a tutor based in Thane.)

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