THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 424 FOR
2ND SEPTEMBER, 2011
(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. Government of India launched the National Rural
Health Mission in the year 2005 to support the States in providing accessible,
affordable and quality health care to the rural population, especially the
vulnerable sections. Further, the following measures have been taken under
the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for providing adequate healthcare /
medical facilities in the backward/tribal/inaccessible areas:
1. 264 backward districts have been identified for focused attention. States
have been advised to consider higher allocation to these districts.
2. Under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a scheme to promote institutional
deliveries, higher cash incentive is provided to women for accessing Government
institutions for delivery in low performing (backward) States.
3. Some States like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have provided the facility of
birth waiting homes in tribal areas for stay of pregnant women prior to delivery.
4. 461 districts have been equipped with 1,787 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs)
to provide health care services to unserved/ underserved areas.
5. Monetary and Non-Monetary incentives are provided to the staff posted in
backward, inaccessible and hard to reach areas as approved in the State Programme
Implementation Plan.
6. Healthcare infrastructure has been strengthened under NRHM by taking up
new construction/up-gradation of public health facilities.
7. Human Resources in health in the States have been augmented.
8. 8.05 lakhs Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) have been engaged
to bridge the gap between community and health facilities and create awareness
on health issues.
9. Community ownership of health facilities has been promoted by
constituting 4.83 lakhs Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee
(VHSNC) and 33,149 Rogi Kalyan Samities (RKS).
10. Joint Monitoring Teams have been constituted comprising of officers
of the Ministry, National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) and
National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) for regular monitoring of
implementation of NRHM in these districts and providing help and support to
the district officials.
The State-wise allocation of funds including allocation to Jharkhand and
North-Eastern Region under NRHM for last three years and the current financial
year is enclosed as Annexure-I.
(d) & (e): Yes, Madam. Under NRHM, schemes/programmes have been implemented
successfully in the country including Jharkhand and North Eastern Region. There
has been improvement in vital health indicators like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR),
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and institutional
deliveries. Concurrent evaluation of NRHM conducted by the Indian Institute
of Population Sciences, Mumbai, in 187 districts of 33 States/UTs indicates
considerable progress in the patients’ satisfaction level and increase in IPD
and OPD cases. The State-wise data of important indicators including progress
of Jharkhand and North Eastern States is enclosed as Annexure-II.
(f): The following new initiatives have been taken recently by the Government
to further improve the outcomes under NRHM:
# Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) has been launched to provide
free and cashless services to pregnant women including normal deliveries and
caesarean operations and sick new born (up to 30 days after birth) in Government
institutions.
# Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) through ASHAs and payment of performance
linked incentives to them.
# Name based Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) to ensure registration
of all pregnant women and children and to monitor ante-natal and post natal check
up of women and immunization of children.
# Delivery of contraceptives (condoms and oral pills) at the doorsteps by ASHA.
