News comes from UP where a scam in connection with Janani Suraksha Yojna has come into light. This audit principally assures better and healthier meals for women who recently deliver a baby and it’s to take good care of their health by means of a small dole. But the audit has revealed several shocking “facts” that would shake everyone.
To quote few examples, one lady had been affirmed pregnant thrice in 4 months and unquestionably, it was just for availing advantages offered in this scheme. Besides, health dept. gave honorarium worth Rs. 1,400 to a lady who didn’t conceive for the last 12 years. And here comes the mother of all scams; an old lady of 60 who claimed to have been PREGNANT 5 TIMES IN 10 MONTHS.
Now investigations are going on for searching the personnel accountable to implement this scheme as well as there is an inquiry in process to get to the bottom of discrepancies. According to officers, it’s a “large pan-UP scam” wherein personnel of Primary Health Centre (PHC) will have fake transfer of money to village ladies, giving only very small amount while keeping the remaining. Additionally, 200 cases of this type are found just in Baundi primary health centre. In this regard, 5 officers are suspended so far as well as a probe is commanded by DM.
It was when Asha Devi claimed for the amount thrice in 4 months, bank staff got doubtful and notified health department regarding the same. After carrying out the inquiry, it was revealed that there were a number of such cases.
Barahi’s Rajeshwari Devi’s case is no less surprising. She alleged that she gave birth to a baby in August 2011, whereas the truth is that she had a baby 12 years back. Here it’s worth mentioning that the scheme had been introduced in the year 2005 with the intention of benefiting poor pregnant ladies. It had been initiated with the purpose of reducing maternal as well as neonatal mortality.
In the words of Dr Subodh Sharma, additional director of state govt’s health department, “I have inspected records at the public and community health centres and am waiting for a report from bank authorities. Once I receive that, action will be taken against the guilty. A woman is given Rs Rs 1,400 by the government under the scheme to encourage her to eat nutritious food soon after she delivers a child at a government hospital. That would safeguard her health and that of the new-born baby. It is unfortunate that this scheme is being misused.”