In a bid to foster woman and child development, the Sundargarh district administration has launched the "Matrujyoti" programme. Significantly, ultrasound tests as many as four times would be conducted of all pregnant woman as a part of the programme, in a bid to ensure safe delivery.
"In Sundargarh, the maternal and infant mortality rate is lower than the State rate and we aim to further strengthen mother and child health programmes, under Matrujyoti initiative," said Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan.
"In addition to present services under Mamata programme for antenatal care, the district administration will now ensure that ultrasound for at least four times of all pregnant women is conducted," Kalyan added. Sources said, along with the eight Government hospitals in the district and as many as 41 private ultrasound clinics have been contracted to provide ultrasound services to the pregnant woman.
About 28,000 woman of the district are going to get benefit under this programme every year, sources said. Besides various other initiatives like strengthening of Anganbadi centers with renovations and construction of new Anganbadi centres would also be done as a part of the programme.
The logo “Matrujyoti” which will be used as an umbrella programme for various women and child development interventions, was unveiled on the occasion. Similarly, the quarterly newsletter ‘Ama Sundargarh’ was also released.The newsletter shall present various developmental projects and connect with the stakeholders and general public of the district.
The district administration will take up modernisation of 2,500 Anganbadi Centres and about 700 Anganbadi centres with modern infrastructure and child friendly amenities would be developed in the district under the Matrujyoti programme.
Besides, intitiatives are also being taken to address the issue of malnutrition of children. These programems are to be executed with financial support from District Mineral Fund.
In other initiatives, the district administration also signed an MoU with the Hamara Bachpan Trust to implement a life skill programme for adolescent girls and women.
The programme will help them augment their skills for better livelihood. This programme is supported from NTPC CSR fund. Similarly, a job oriented residential training programme on hotel management for migrants and local youth of mining affected areas has been initiated. The candidates will be offered diploma and degree courses on the subject at State Institute of Hotel Management, Balangir.