GRANTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

A pregnant woman is an important resource of a country. The future engineer, doctor, educationist, businessman or great politicians come from the woman only. So it is an important period of every woman when she should keep many things in mind. She should take care of her health, nutrition, daily activity and personal movement in every walk of life. So there should be some initiatives/steps to be taken by various agencies like governments, NGO and local community to help a needy pregnant woman for better health.

Many government organizations are coming forward to take some important steps to help a pregnant lady. In India the government of India has launched a scheme called ‘National Rural Health Mission’ to help the rural people in basic health care. Under this program a sub program called ‘Asha’ is also launched to assist the rural women and children in a healthcare. There are many objectives of this program. This scheme is under the ministry of health and family welfare. The government offers various medicines free of cost to the pregnant lady under this mission. A routine check up is also done by the ‘Asha worker’ in Asha centre available in most villages throughout India. Now let us elaborate the organizational structure of a ‘Asha’ health program.

In every district there is a principal Health Officer which is also the Mission Director of National Rural Health Mission’ under whom block health officer and village health supervisor work. Under each ‘Asha’ supervisor there are 5-6 ‘Asha’ workers who regularly visit each house in their area and enquire of the health conditions of a woman and children. She also advises pregnant lady about nutrition and regular take care tips for the baby in her womb. She also distributes free medicines and gives injections to the woman.

This mission offers cash to the pregnant lady at the time of her delivery provided the delivery should have to be done in a government hospital or clinic. The amount varies as per the sex of the child she give birth. If it is a boy baby then the mother will get less amount (rupees 500) and if the baby is girl one then the grant is 1,400 rupees.

The mission’s other features are as follows: 1)Provides nutrient ration to the pregnant women. 2)Distributes information sheets to the lady. 3)Demonstrates life style and movement during pregnant period. 4)Arranges monthly village health meeting with the help of village head. 5)Grants finance for transportation of the pregnant women to health centres/hospitals.