State to pay transport costs for BPL mothers to reach health facilities
2007-10-12
"Kolkata, June 10:
The state government will now pay transport cost to underprivileged pregnant women to reach state-run hospitals and health facilities in time for childbirth.
The decision was driven by the large number of maternal and neo-natal deaths taking place in rural Bengal. Most deaths are due to a delay in reaching the health facility.
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The initiative, Referral Transport Scheme, will be applicable to all BPL (Below the Poverty Line) mothers in the state who will be paid at the rate of Rs 4 per kilometre from their home to the government-run health institution and back, up to a maximum distance of 40 kilometres.
If the distance covered is more than 40 kilometres, she will be paid an additional Rs 80. The maximum amount a women is liable to receive under the scheme is Rs 240.
The women will be paid at the health institute within 24 hours of their delivery.
“We found that the delay is a major cause of deaths. Many a time it is an emergency situation. Saving time in journey will help save lives,” said Surya Kanta Mishra, state health minister. The scheme, he said, will also encourage mothers to deliver at a health institute under medical supervision. “This is a time-consuming scheme and we will do it in a phased manner, covering all districts and villages,” he added.
Money for the scheme will come from the National Rural Health Mission.
“We first initiated a programme where the gram panchayat paid money to such pregnant BPL mothers. But that did not do well,” said Sanchita Bakshi, director of state health services.
Pregnant mothers from BPL families will benefit under the scheme. The women will have to produce BPL certificate or proof from the gram panchayat. They will avail of the benefits irrespective of their age or number of children.
The women will be paid in cash on the spot at the health institute irrespective of the outcome, live birth or still birth. She will be paid before her discharge within 24 hours of her delivery. The amount given to the women will be mentioned in the discharge certificate of the health institute.
“Funds are being allocated to the district health and family welfare samiti. The money will be released to the Rogi Kalyan Samiti of the respective health facilities, which will disburse it to districts hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, block primary health centres and primary health centres. They will keep records of such cases and file monthly reports to us,” added Bakshi."
Article by Ravik Bhattacharya for Kolkata Newsline
http://cities.expressindia.com/kolkata.html
