The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A boost to the health of pregnant Dalit women

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Monday, Jan 07, 2008
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A boost to the health of pregnant Dalit women

Special Correspondent

—Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Relentless drive: The pulse polio and Hepatitis vaccinations being administered at Jayanagar General Hospital on Sunday.

Bangalore: Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Sunday launched “Prasoothi Araike”, a scheme to boost the health of pregnant Dalit women living Below Poverty Line in Karnataka. He also flagged off an immunisation drive to fight Hepatitis-B.

Usha Ganesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said that the Araike scheme had been launched as a pilot project in seven backward districts of Karnataka, to help Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women get adequate nutritious food and medical care. Women who are eligible for the scheme in the districts receive a sum of Rs. 2,000 in two instalments during the pregnancy, and two saris after the birth of the child. Women can avail of this scheme only for two pregnancies. Districts to be covered under the scheme are Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Raichur, Koppal and Chamrajanagar. Speaking after launching the scheme, Mr. Thakur hoped that it would soon be extended to other parts of the State. P.P. Prabhu, adviser to the Governor, M. Madan Gopal, Director, National Rural Health Mission, and Basavaraju, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, were present.

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