*7 new ANM, 5 GNM schools too sanctioned
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 29: In a significant development, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad has enhanced funding to the Jammu and Kashmir under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to Rs 424 crore, which is almost double the assistance provided during last financial year. The Ministry has also revised incentives for the doctors engaged under the scheme in order to encourage more to join the mission of providing accessible, affordable and quality health care to the rural population especially the vulnerable groups. Apart from this, the Minister has sanctioned 7 new ANM and 5 GNM schools for the State in order to upgrade and strengthen nursing services.
Highly placed sources in the Union Health Ministry told EXCELSIOR that funding to Jammu and Kashmir under the NRHM has been increased to Rs 424 crore from the current financial year, which is almost double the last fiscal year.
Under the scheme, which was launched in the year 2005, the Jammu and Kashmir was getting less than Rs 200 crore till 2011-2012. In the year 2012-13, the funding was increased to Rs 207 crore and during the current financial year it was initially fixed at Rs 236 crore but now the same has been increased to Rs 424 crore which means that from now onwards Jammu and Kashmir would be entitled for minimum of Rs 424 crore assistance, sources said.
Though approval for Rs 236 crore has already been granted, the nod to utilize Rs 100.53 crore out of the additional funding sanctioned under the scheme has also been given by the Union Ministry, sources said while disclosing that approval of additional funding has been conveyed to State Government vide order No. 10(26)/2013-NRHM-1 dated December 18, 2013.
Under RCH Flexi-Pool head, amount of Rs 100.53 crore would be utilized for Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram JSSK-Maternal Health, JSSK-Child Health, Urban RCH, PNDT and human resources, which include incentive for doctors as per the revised criteria.
Similarly, under Mission Flexi-Pool head, the amount would be used for ASHAs training at State level, planning and monitoring, opening of Sub-Centres and major upgradation of existing structure in District Hospital Kishtwar, Rajeev Gandhi Hospital Gangyal, District Hospital Kulgam, District Hospital Anantnag besides spill over ongoing works for Maternity Hospital (GMC Srinagar/Jammu) etc.
Sources disclosed that the Ministry has also revised incentives for the doctors (MBBS/ISM) working in rural areas, adding the health institutions work has been categorized on the basis of the distance from the State Headquarter, District Headquarter and on the basis of accessibility, road connectivity and the distance one has to cover on foot.
Any health facility which is more than 130 kilometers from the State Headquarter or more than 50 kilometers from the District Headquarter will be categorized as Category-A, they said. Some of the districts where all the institutions fall in Category-A and there are many other institutions which are at far more distance, these have been further categorized into A1, A2 and A3 based on the distance from District Headquarter and distance which a person has to travel on foot, sources added.
Likewise, any health facility which is 101 to 130 kilometers from the State Headquarter or 41 to 50 kilometers from District Headquarters will be considered as Category-B while as any health facility which is 70 to 100 kilometers from the State Headquarter or 30 to 40 kilometers from the District Headquarter will be considered as Category-C.
The incentives proposed in such institutions for Allopathic/ISM doctors engaged under NRHM are Rs 20,000 under Category A, Rs 25,000 under A1, Rs 28,000 under A2, Rs 30,000 under A3, Rs 15,000 under Category B and Rs 10,000 under Category C. Accordingly, the Allopathic/ISM doctors working in such institutions under NRHM will get the incentives over and above their remunerations.
As far as Allopathic Doctors are concerned, total emoluments under category A will be Rs 45,000, Rs 50,000 under A1, Rs 53,000 under A2, Rs 55,000 under A3, Rs 40,000 under B and Rs 35,000 under C category. Likewise, ISM doctors will get Rs 39,200 under Category A, Rs 44,200 under A1, Rs 47,200 under A2, Rs 49,200 under A3, Rs 34,200 under B category and Rs 29,200 under C category.
Sources disclosed that Union Ministry, for the first time, has also sanctioned 234 Pharmacist and ANMs under RBSK.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (upgradation/strengthening of Nursing Services—ANM/GNM), the Ministry has approved 7 new ANM Schools and 5 new GNM Schools in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ANM schools will be opened in Thanamandi, Surankote, Thathri, Kokernag, Khan Sahib, Awantipora and Handwara while as GNM Schools will be established in Rajouri, Leh, Kathua, Budgam and Reasi districts.
To facilitate early establishment of these new schools, the State Government is required to furnish confirmation about the commitment of meeting 15% of its share, availability of required land, faculty and settlement of pending Utilization Certificates.
With regard to Reasi and Budgam, funds have already been released for these two places as ANM Schools as such these are to be converted into GNM schools for which additional funds will be released, sources said, adding “in respect of earlier approved ANM school for Kathua, the Ministry has approved it under GNM School”.
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