The Times of India 16.03.2013
NMC to appoint deputy commissioner on women & child welfare panel
NASHIK: The NMC
on Friday decided to appoint a deputy commissioner-level officer on the
Women & Child Welfare Committee (W&CWC) of the civic body to
implement the schemes of the committee effectively. The NMC also decided
to implement Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana (mother and child security scheme) and make provisions in the civic budget for the fiscal 2013-14.
A decision to this effect was taken at the general body meeting (GBM)
of the NMC on Friday. The civic administration had tabled the proposal
to introduce the mother and child safety scheme for pregnant women and
newborns in the limits of the NMC at a cost of Rs 1 crore, which was to
be spent from the funds of the W&CWC. The W&CWC members at the
GBM strongly sought the appointment of a deputy commissioner-level
competent officer on the panel.
Mayor Yatin Wagh said, "The mother and child safety scheme will be introduced in the city and provision will be made in the in the civic budget for the fiscal 2013-14." He also directed the civic administration to appoint a deputy commissioner-level officer for effective planning and implementation of the schemes.
Earlier, the W&CWC chairman, Manisha Hekare, said, "The chairperson and the members of the W&CWC are elected for the period of one year and they face lot of difficulties while chalking out various schemes and implementation of the plans. With an aim to help the committee, we had written to the civic administration on November 21, 2012 asking that a deputy commissioner-level competent official be appointed on the committee."
Former deputy mayor and BJP corporator Devyani Pharande said that though the mother and child safety scheme is good, the provision of the funds should be made by the civic administration instead of spending from the funds of the W&CWC.
Gurumeet Bagga from the City Development Front raised the question as to why the NMC should spend on the scheme if the state and the central government are giving 100% grant.
The scheme will provide free health services for delivery. It includes transporting the patient from her home to the hospital, free food for new mothers - three days for women who deliver normally and seven days for women who deliver via caesarean section.