Question : SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME

(a) whether certain States have ignored the component of integrating the School Health Programme (SHP) with the mid- day meal scheme;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and

(c) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard along with the measures taken to ensure proper use of funds for boosting health of students in the country including Haryana?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) to (c) : No, Madam. The Government of India has launched a new initiative i.e the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) under the National Rural Health Mission. The school health component gets subsumed under the RBSK. This initiative aims to screen and manage children from birth to 18 years of age for defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, developmental delays including disabilities.  All newborns born at public health facilities and at home are screened for birth defects by health personnel and ASHAs respectively, between six weeks to six years of age at Anganwadi centres and between six years to 18 years of age who are enrolled in Government and Government aided schools by Mobile Block Health Teams. The children with identified health conditions are referred to the appropriate facility for further interventions. 

At present there are 4844 dedicated block level mobile health teams providing early screening of children both in anganwadis and schools. During the F.Y 2013-14, a total of 3.45 crore children including school children were screened by RBSK teams and 12 lakh children were identified with health conditions and referred to the health facilities for further management. In the State of Haryana there are 197 dedicated block level medical teams in place and these teams have screened 54508 children and referred 6477 children to health facilities for further management.

MHRD has written to the Education Departments of all States for coordination with the NRHM for effective implementation of RBSK. The implementation of the RBSK is reviewed by the Joint Review Missions for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) during their visit to the States. The representatives of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are involved with the Governance structures of the MDMS at all levels to ensure proper coordination in this regard.