Preparations half baked so launch delayed

Raising a question on the preparedness of the state government for this scheme,a Central monitoring team,which visited three districts of Uttar Pradesh in July,stated in its report that the awareness about the scheme among the public is low.

“Below the district level,the information,concept and roll out plan (of JSSK) has not reached. No institution has displayed the free services available under JSSK. Institutional preparedness,hence,is an issue and it will be difficult for the state to meet the time line,” said the report.

The monitoring team observed: “Tender has been floated for providing free transport to mothers but the response has been poor because of specifications like Rs 15,000 per month and provision of newer vehicles etc.” The provision of food will also be a problem in the districts,it added. The Centre has already approved a budget of Rs 205.70 crore for the scheme,which is meant to provide complete cashless health facility to mother and child. The state government had proposed a budget of Rs 316 crore for the scheme.

Last year,the state government had launched a similar programme with much fan fair for the benefit of the pregnant women and new borns in the state. The programme was called Jachha Bachha Suraksha Abhiyan,which included hiring of vehicles for medical officers and ANMs to ensure that the officials go for routine immunization programme for the children. There were several cash-based incentives for village level health workers under the programme as well. However,the programme did not even last for over eight months. The state government came up with the new programme of JSSK in the new financial year.