(a) whether some Mini-Welfare Centres were working till recently in slums of Chandigarh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether these Centres have been closed down;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the number of persons affected thereby?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (d) Yes, Sir. Eight Mini Family Welfare Centres had been working in Chandigarh from 1995-96 to 1997-98 with Government of India assistance under the India Population Project (IPP)-VII. Financial assistance from GOI under IPP-VII stopped on 31.12.1997 after IPP-VII ended. Thereafter the Chandigarh Administration closed five centers, namely at Palsora Colony, Colony No. 5, Colony No. 4, Sector 31 and Mauli Jagran. The remaining three centers at Khudda Alisher, Kishangarh and Bapu Dham Colony are functional and are being run by NGOs without any financial assistance.
(e) No beneficiary was directly affected from closure of these centers because the people living near the closed centers are serviced by Dispensaries/Health Centres of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.