Early Times Report
jammu, Feb 2: The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Jammu Kashmir has published an advertisement in local dailies urging general public to inform the parents of children in need of specialized treatment in higher institutions within and outside the State.
But for the CAG report, this advertisement would definitely project a rosy picture of the NRHM in the State. The CAG report has made a detailed mention of staff crunch in the hospitals forcing around two million people every year to go outside the State for treatment of various ailments.
According to CAG report there is acute shortage of drugs in the hospital. Even normal saline (glucose) is not available in the super specialty hospital. The patients have to purchase it from the market.
The Mission has, rural people in Jammu Kashmir believe, failed to bring the much needed respite to them. Notwithstanding the work done under the mission, the rural population still has to rush to SMHS, SKIMS and SMGS hospitals even for minor emergencies.
Giving reasons for increased deaths in SKIMS and GB Panth Hospital for children, a senior official preferring anonymity said shortage of doctors, paramedics and infrastructure is adversely affecting the functioning of these hospitals.
The above quoted advertisement further says that the scheme is available to children who study in Government, Government-aided schools and also to children registered with ICDS centers. The ICDS centers in the State have also failed due to non-availability of funds and ration.
Jameela Sabri, the general secretary of the Anganwadi workers and helpers says there is no ration to be provided to the workers these days. During the past five years, the salary has registered an increase by Rs 50 only, she said.
Interestingly the workers were assured promotion on the basis of their experience but no promotion has been effected for the past 14 years.
Jameela also complained of lack of proper space and infrastructure for running the centers effectively. Under this scheme the Government takes care of the child and the mother. But for quite some time now, these activities have come to a halt.
The Social Welfare Director, Bashir Ahmad Khan has accused the Centre for delaying the funds. "Now the funds have been released and the State has also contributed its share. Things will take a favourable turn in a couple of days", he said.
When both the programmes have almost failed in the State, the Government should not generate hopes by publishing `misleading' advertisements. Generating hopes when help cannot be extended is a crime. |
