BPL families to get free treatment in super speciality hospitals

Govt will pay ` 1.5 lakh towards treatment of a family with five members, says DHO

People below poverty line can now avail free medical treatment in super specialty hospitals under the 'Vajapayee Shree Arogya Yojana' which has been extended to Dakshina Kannada district, said District Health Officer O R Srirangappa at the monthly KDP meet organised at Zilla Panchayat in Mangalore on Tuesday.

People suffering with major diseases such as heart problems, nervous system disorders, bladder disorders, burns, accidents, problems related to new born babies can now avail free treatment in seven super specialty hospitals such as A J Hospital, Father Mullers, Mangala Kidney Foundation, City Hospital, KMC (Attavar), KSHEMA in Deralakatte and Yenepoya Hospital.

The government will pay Rs 1.5 lakh towards the treatment of a family with five members. Various medical camps will be organised where patients will be identified and referred to the hospitals, said the DHO.

Chairing the KDP meeting, DK ZP President K T Shailaja Bhat said that the excise department has failed in controlling the sale of illicit liquor. "Several women call and inform me that many shops sell illicit liquor. The raid conducted by the officials is of no use as the information regarding the raid will be leaked beforehand," she said and demanded that such places should be raided and sale of illicit liquor should be stopped.

Water issues

With lack of rains and depleting ground water level, Engineering division should pay more attention towards solving water related problems. They should take technical inputs from NITK and IIT, advised DK ZP CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash.

Engineering Division Executive Engineer Sathyanarayan said that around 42 projects have been proposed under the multi-village drinking water scheme. The cost of these projects is Rs 575 crores and the report has been submitted to the government.

In the first phase, a proposal of Rs 254 crore has been prepared and sent to the government for approval. The government has approved six multi-drinking water projects for Bantwal. A meeting is being held once in 45 days to keep a tab on progress, said Sathyanarayan.

Education and Health Standing Committee President Ishwar Kateel and Social Welfare Standing Committee President Janardhan Gowda stressed on the construction of vented dams. Responding to this, the officials concerned revealed that this year 219 vented dams will be constructed of which 82 have been completed, 72 are in progress and 28 have yet to be started.

CEO Vijayprakash said that a committee has been formed to stop the depletion of ground water level. The DC is the President and CEO is the Vice President of the committee. There are also plans to start rain water harvesting methods in all offices which will help in solving water crisis as well as create awareness, he said.

The CEO regretted that the Mines and Geology department is not stable while imparting information. The department has informed media that 10 places in the district have high fluoride content in water. However, when CEO contacted the department, they denied about the issue. “Be clear about facts,” he told the officials concerned.

Beneficiaries under the Basava Jayanthi Scheme need not have accounts in State Bank of India any more. They can have accounts in any nationalised bank in their village. The last date to start construction of houses which are approved under the National Rural Housing Board is August 18, informed the CEO.

Malnutrition

As many as 777 children in Anganawadis, 164 children outside Anganawadis and 37 children in town are identified to be underweight, informed Women and Child Welfare Committee Officer Sundar Poojary.

The process of collecting information, photographs and biometric ID from people to distribute ration cards has started in all Gram Panchayats. While adding names to the ration cards, all family members have to be present, informed Food and Civil Supplies Joint Director Sharanabasappa.