Bangalore, Karnataka
The State, after a long time, has increased the nutrition expense per child from Rs 4 to Rs 4.60 from April 2012.
At present, the nutrition expenditure per child in the state is Rs 4 with the state and central government contributing Rs 2 each.
The state will now spend another 60 paise per child, resulting in an additional expenditure of Rs 90 crore.
In addition, specific administrative efforts will be made to ensure efficient utilisation of the outlay of Rs 795 crore for the nutrition programme which includes the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
The Bhagyalakshmi scheme has also received a significant increase in allocation from Rs 408 crore last year to Rs 500 crore this year. About 2.6 lakh new beneficiaries are expected to be enrolled this year under the scheme.
The Department of Women and Child Welfare this year will begin a job placement cell for the physically handicapped. It is meant to be a skill enhancement and job placement centre, where physically handicapped persons can develop new skills.
Depending on their aptitude, they will be trained and assisted in obtaining jobs in private companies. The programme is open to both men and women.
Recognising the work done by the NGO Sumangali Sevashram since 1975, the government has provided it a grant of Rs 50 lakh. The organisation provides education to children and free hostels for women and also serves as a creche for destitute children.
Mandatory rural service
To solve the problem of lack of doctors in rural areas, the State government plans to bring about a legislation to make it mandatory for medical undergraduates and post-graduates to serve one year in rural areas immediately after successful completion of the course. These graduates will be eligible for permanent registration with the Karnataka Medical Council, only after completion of the service.
According to Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas, not only MBBS graduates, but also graduates from ayurvedic, nursing and paramedic colleges will have to serve in rural areas for a year.
The government will hike penalty for MBBS and post-graduate doctors who avail concessional seats in government colleges and government seats in private colleges and opt to work in the private sector after completion of the course. At present, the penalty is Rs one lakh.
The demand by 65,000 people living with HIV in the State for travel allowance has been fulfilled. The government said it would bear the travel costs incurred for HIV patients visiting ART centres.
An amount of Rs six crore has been allotted for the purpose. NACO programme – ‘link worker scheme’ – will end by March 2012. But, the government has allotted another Rs six crore to continue the scheme till NACO takes over in a phased manner.
The government has proposed to set up a full-fledged unit of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in Mysore and an amount of Rs five crore has been provided to commence the work.
Overall, an amount of Rs 4,260 crore has been allotted towards health and medical education. Of this, Rs 3,391 crore is exclusively for Health department.
Highlights
*Rs.8 crore for NGOs running special schools for physically challenged children.
* Rs.12.5 crore for promoting activities of Stree Shakti Groups including facility of mobile vans for sale of their products.
* A new scheme for self employment opportunities for transgenders.
* Hike in scholarship from Rs 100 to Rs 600 for girls from backward classes studying in Class 8 to 10.
* Special subsidy for children’s films to be enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
Social security pensions
The State has increased the social security pensions for eligible persons between 65 to 80 years to Rs 500 per month from April 2012. This increase of Rs 100 will benefit almost 30 lakh beneficiaries. Total outlay: Rs. 2310 crore.
source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> State/ DHNS / Bangalore, March 21st, 2012