Centre slashes reproductive and child health innovation programme budget

Poverty of ideas costs state health programme dear

Centre slashes reproductive and child health innovation programme budget

The state health department has received a rude jolt from the Union Health Ministry this year as the latter has announced a cut in one of its budget provisions for the reproductive and child health (RCH) programme of the state.

According to sources in the state health department, the slash is because the Centre is unhappy with the lack of imagination that certain departments have shown in implementing past projects.

"This year the Centre has reduced funding for the reproductive and child health programme's innovation category budget," said a senior official on condition of anonymity. "This fund is allotted to implement newer schemes and come up with innovative ideas to promote the subject. But as against Rs 8.65 crore requested by the state, it is an embarrassment that only Rs 65.66 lakh have been approved for new innovations."

The entire RCH programme that promotes mother and child health has received a funding of Rs 2.45 crore, said state officials.

Dr Ashok Laddha, additional director of state health department, who takes care of the budgetary provisions for RCH project, said the state had not got what it wanted, but refused to discuss the details.

The RCH programme is a part of the Centre's ambitious project of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

"There is no cut in funding to other programmes of NRHM, the state budget for which is Rs 13.77 crore. It is only under the creativity category funding that we have lost out," said another senior official. "Until recently Maharashtra would introduce newer methods of reaching out to the masses and other states would follow after seeing our success. But in the last few years, no new ideas are coming out of here and hence this cut in funding. It is quite shameful and has led to a lot of distress."

Deputy director of health services Dr Uddhav Gawande, who is in-charge of implementing RCH programme, wasn't available for comment despite repeated attempts to contact him.