Poor utilisation of funds, forces centre to reduce funding for project from 2008-10

Poor utilisation of funds, forces centre to reduce funding for project from 2008-10

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, May 25: The poor utilization of central assistance by the health and medical education department Jammu and Kashmir has resulted into a slash down in the central assistance by the government of India during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 by 63% and 88 % respectively as compared to the release of 2007-08.

An overview of physical achievements of NRHM by Slate Level Evulation Committee (SLEC) reveals that during first four years of implementation of NRHM mission i.e. 2006-07 to 2009-10, the progress was very slow and thus no tangible results were achieved. From the physical achievement profile, it could be inferred that much emphasis had been given for procurement of software and sensitization of stakeholders in the initial stage.

Shortage of various categories of staff in sample community health centers was responsible for poor implementation of the programme. The engagement of staff in consonance with the norms is suggested.

During a field inquiry, it was observed that in the sample community health centres (CHCs), the in-position specialists were 18 during 2009-10 against the requirement of 35. Similarly the requirement of staff nurses as per NRHM norms was 45, where as the number of in-position nurses were 23 thereby showing a defict of 22. A separate AYUSH set-up was seen provided in 4 samples CHCs while as no such arrangement was provided in sample CHC of Jammu district.

Lack of infrastructural including residential quarters was also partially responsible for not ensuring round the clock functioning of Primary Health Centers (PHCs). 

In sample PHCs, the situation with respect to skilled manpower, equipments and drug supply were found below the norms of NRHM.  The norms set under NRHM for the selection of ASHA were fulfilled to a great extent.

The Field enquiry that almost all the selected ASHAs had received training of (10-15) days before put to service by the health department. The drug kits were provided to them and as per their statement 93% of ASHAs viewed the medicines adequate and 85% regarded the supply timely. The functioning of ASHAs was found by and large satisfactory in the fields entrusted to them under the NRHM.