Sushma opens a direct lifeline with midwives

In each letter, Swaraj refers to the addressee — name handwritten — as ‘‘sister’’. Each carries a smiling picture of the minister besides her signature. And the medium is not confined to English or Hindi, there are letters in all the regional languages.

Calling the midwives as the ‘‘pillar of the National Family Welfare Programme,’’ Swaraj writes: ‘‘All schemes are disseminated in the villages through you. The success and failure of the entire programme depends on your role in implementing them. If you are active, the programme is a success. If you are not, the programme takes a beating. That’s why I thought, I should communicate with you directly.’’ Assuring the women of meeting them through state specific conferences, she calls the letter a ‘‘straightway to open up a direct communication link between us’’. Swaraj stresses that women’s health is a major concern to her, and observes that the current statistics are ‘‘very painful and jeopardise the success of population stabilisation programme’’.

Nearly 407 out of one lakh pregnant women die every year, while for every 1000 live births, 66 die every year. ‘‘If we want to get every couple to stick to the two-children norm, we should assure the survival of every newborn. For this we need to ensure that the baby is born healthy, and this will happen only if the mother is in good health’’.

Comprehensively listing the duties of ANMs in this regard, the letter asks them to ensure registration of every pregnant women within three months, free examination for the next six months, providing information about nutritious food intake, administering vitamins, IFA tablets and also injections at proper time.

‘‘Refer all complicated cases that come to light during regular check-ups to the hospital. Advice and arrange for delivery in a hospital or the nearest primary health centre. Ensure payment of Rs 500 on delivery of a boy and Rs 1,000 on delivery of a girl to mothers from below poverty line families, before sending them home.’’ exhorts the communique.

In addition, the minister also wants midwives to assume the task of advicing women about routine immunisation programmes and personally ensure that infants get polio drops and immunisation against preventable diseases.

‘‘You belong to the grassroots. That is why you understand the plight of the poor people as well as the helplessness of women in these families. You should not do this merely as a government employee but as a mission. And in this mission, I am holding the string at one end while you hold the other…’’ concludes the letter.