The delivery of scooties gifted to the best sahiyas of each district for their outstanding performance by Health Minister Rajendra Prasad Singh on September 30 is facing glitches. Jharkhand Rural Health Mission Society (JRHMS) had gifted the scooties in a felicitation ceremony to the sahiyas but took it back on the same day after the first of its kind initiated function concluded.
On one side, sources at JRHMS say that they are unable to procure the two-wheelers from the company’s agency based at New Delhi and collect documents for vehicle insurance and licences. Sahiyas on the other hand are curious to receive their awards and utilise it for carrying out their work more effectively.
According to most of the Sahiyas, officials at JRHMS (the State wing of National Rural Health Mission) had assured them to deliver the scooties by the end of this month. These officials had told The Pioneer on September 30 that they are mulling to send scooties within the next 10 days.
Putting the blame on holidays and the agency, JRHMS sources said, “There are many festive holidays marked this month. The ongoing strike of our employees has added trouble to the process. The agency of Hero company is supposed to provide us scooties at a specific rate under GoI norms. Many sahiyas have not submitted documents for preparing vehicle insurance and license.”
“We are hopeful to deliver the scooties by the first week of November. 23 Sahiyas were given the gifts. One more Sahiya will be given the same,” pointed out the sources.
Notably, Health Minister Rajendra Prasad Singh had asked the civil surgeons of all the districts to arrange licenses for Sahiyas at the earliest. However, he had told the media persons then that availability of petrol in the scooty is the responsibility of Sahiyas.
“We are devoid of our salaries since a long time. Despite this fact, we are ready to use the scooty with the payments given for field work. Afterall, it is a matter of providing timely medical services to mother and child. Government gifted us the scooty as a symbol of establishing a competitive environment among the sahiyas towards their work. But, the delay is disappointing us,” Rekha Devi, the Sahiyaa who received the honour from lohardaga district said.
Similarly, Palamau’s best Sahiya Durgawati Devi said she is often enquiring the status of scooty delivery from JRHMS and has submitted required documents for license to the civil surgeon. “It is difficult to reach every pregnant woman’s home on time. I worked hard to get the scooty. Once I get it, it will be easier to ensure day and night services to a mother and her child safely,” said Koderma based sahiyaa Madhuri Kumari.
Sources maintained the 19 out of 23 sahiya present at the function on September 30 at Institute of Public Health, Namkom had filled up a format for vehicle insurance. Also, they had deposited a photocopy of their Aadhaar cards, Identity card and copies of photographs for the purpose. Neither the Minister nor the JRHMS Mission Director was available for their comments on the issue.