The Health Minister of Uttarakhand, Surendra Singh Negi launched the ‘Jeevan Jyoti Palna’ scheme at the associated hospital of Doon Medical College on Sunday. The scheme entails setting up of cradles (palnas) at all the district hospitals of the State. Terming the scheme as a good initiative, the health minister said that the State Government is dedicated to the welfare of the people of the State.
The cradle scheme was conceptualized by the State Government in the wake of large number of cases involving people abandoning their new born babies. Most of these abandoned babies are girls. Under the scheme cradles would be set up at some public places including hospitals for abandoned babies.
The State Government would take the onus of care and upkeep of these abandoned babies. The babies left in the cradles would be handed over the child protection homes of the social welfare department. The health department would take care of medical and other needs of these children. The Rajpur road MlA, Rajkumar has provided a financial assistance from his MlA local area development fund for setting up cradles in state capital.
The minister also administered polio vaccines to children at the erstwhile Doon women hospital which now is part of the associated hospital of Doon Medical College.
The Minister said that the State Government is trying its best to ensure that the Doon Medical College start functioning soon. He said that the State Government is committed to provide health facilities in all parts of the State.
The programme was also attended by the Rajpur Road MlA and parliamentary secretary Rajkumar, the health secretary Bhupender Kaur Olakh, Director General (DG) of health services Dr R P Bhatt, the Principal Medical Superintendent (PMS) Dr R S Aswal and Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS), Dr Meenakhsi Joshi.