Patna, April 7: The Nitish Kumar government today decided to introduce the “new generation health guarantee scheme” keeping in view the census figures that show a decline in the girl child and overall sex ratios.
The decision was taken at the health mission meeting chaired by the chief minister.
The chief secretary (Anup Mukherjee) will coordinate the implementation of the new generation health guarantee scheme, which aims at stepping up human development in Bihar. Sources said the details of the scheme were being worked out.
Chairing the meeting, Nitish said: “The actual meaning of development is the development of human resources.” The chief minister will himself monitor at least 10 to 12 health-related issues that the scheme will take up to ensure better health for the young generation in the state.
The provisional statistics of Census 2011 says the girl child (0-6 years) ratio has declined nationally from 927 in 2001 to 914 in 2011. Relatively, Bihar is still better off in terms of the national numbers, but it has still registered a downward trend — the ratio in the state has slipped from 942 to 933.
Bihar’s overall sex ratio has declined to 916 females per 1,000 males against 921 in 2001. The country’s overall sex ratio has gone up to 940 from 933 in 2001.
Nitish pointed out that Bihar had earned praise for its efforts and achievements in the health sector. Recently, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, who visited the state, praised the “phenomenal success” that Bihar had achieved in mother-child care. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has re-iterated its resolve to keep on working in Bihar.
The chief minister, however, said the achievements and praises have warranted upon the state machinery to work harder to maintain the bar. “We cannot afford to sit idle on our achievements. Each of the state’s government hospitals has been receiving 5,000 patients per month in comparison to only 39 in the past. This shows the people’s growing faith in the hospitals. But there is a need to improve upon it,” he said.
