We still have to restructure medical education. Of the budget sanctioned under the 11th Five Year Plan, one-fourth will be used to bring the doctor-people ratio in line with WHO guidelines. We are starting new things. It is easy to criticise the government but each state in the country is equal to the population of a small country so change is very difficult.

•Suman K. Jha: We hear your father rates you as a great health minister but he’d like to see you become chief minister of Tamil Nadu one day. Is that your political ambition?

I have my dreams for Tamil Nadu. I want it to be smoke-free, alcohol-free, poster-free and green. Policies in Tamil Nadu could have been much better. Giving one kilo of rice free, dhotis, saris, etc is not what we want. We want more employment.   

•Anubhuti Vishnoi: Your move against alcoholism may be well intended but does that make us a nanny-state where we police everyone? 

Well then, let’s remove all traffic constables too. Till such problems exist, we need such policing. We need to change public perception, create a movement. Till then, we need enforcement.  

•Vidya Krishnan: In Madhya Pradesh recently, close to 200 children died of malnutrition. Schemes like ICDS and NRHM are showing results in Tamil Nadu but have failed in the north. Is this because of your personal involvement in Tamil Nadu?

The Centre does not force these programmes on the states. If Chhattisgarh or Bihar approaches us with their specifics, we give it to them. In Tamil Nadu, they already have a capacity and they are topping it with NRHM which is why these schemes work. In Madhya Pradesh, Janani Express has been working well. We have established a platform, the states have to build on it.

... contd.