Turn Mamta Abhiyan into campaign of society and people: CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called for turning Mamta Abhiyan for saving maternal and infant lives as a campaign of society and people. He urged all sections of society to cooperate in this campaign, which has been started with the cooperation of UNICEF to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was launching second phase of the campaign at Samanvay Bhavan here today. Health Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra and noted cine star Smt. Madhuri Dixit were specially present on the occasion. Smt. Madhuri Dixit has been appointed as brand ambassador of the campaign for 2 years.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that 24-hour power supply has been ensured and infrastructure development works undertaken in the state. Now, a campaign is being conducted to change the state focusing on health and education. Arrangements have been made to provide better healthcare to women and children. Birth of child is the most beautiful incident in the world since nature goes on with it. Coordinated efforts have been made to ensure that mother faces no problems. Maternal and infant mortality rate has come down remarkably in the state. Credit for successful healthcare efforts in rural areas goes to ASHA and health workers operating there. Public awareness will have to be created towards better health of women and children.
The Chief Minister said that Beti Bachao Abhiyan has been launched in the state to change people’s mindset about girls. A number of schemes including Ladli Laxmi Yojana, Gaon Ki Beti and Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana have been launched for girls in the state. Daughters are gifts of God. Society and country will survive only when girls survive. He urged to send every child to school.
Shri Chouhan said that attention has been focused on health and education after attaining self-dependence in road, power and water sectors. State government has resolved to ensure 100 percent institutional deliveries. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts for creating awareness towards health services and keeping family small. He said that field-level Anganwadi and ASHA worker’s role is praiseworthy in achievements of Madhya Pradesh in health sector.
Health Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra said that Madhya Pradesh has witnessed remarkable improvement in health sector. Institutional deliveries have gone up to 86 percent from 22 percent in the state. Constant efforts are being made to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate in the state. Services have been provided for safety of mothers. Gauravi Abhiyan has been launched to safeguard women’s honour.
Smt. Madhuri Dixit said that she is happy after joining Mamta Abhiyan of the state government. She said that India is a country of diversities with different cultures and traditions. It is difficult to bring them together. She said that ASHA and Anganwadi workers putting in hard work for better health of mothers and children are praiseworthy. She said that the three points included in Mamta Abhiyan – love, safety and honour- are in itself a mission. The state government has provided a number of facilities and counselling centres about which women need to be made aware. She said that lives of 80 percent women can be saved with a little awareness. She urged people to avail benefit of these facilities through awareness. Urging for uniform behaviour with sons and daughter, she called of sending girls to schools saying that education to mothers open\s doors of progress and prosperity. She praised UNICEF and progressive leadership of the Chief Minister.
UNICEF’s State Head Shri Trevor Clark lauded objectives and concept of Mamta Abhiyan and hoped that Chief Minister’s leadership will result in better results of the campaign. He said that UNICEF will continue to support it.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan, Health Minister Dr. Mishra and Smt. Madhuri Dixit felicitated health workers and officers for excellent performance in reduction of maternal and infant rate and provision of health services at district, village and division levels. Among ASHA workers, Gunjan of Khandwa, Smt. Durga Deora of Ratlam and Smt. Nisha Tiwari of Panna were felicitated. The Chief Minister felicitated Smt. Snehlata Tiwari of Sidhi, Smt. Mamta Gautam of Rajgarh and Smt. Sunita Kirar of Alirajpur for excellent performance in institutional delivery. Similarly, the Health Minister felicitated Bhopal’s health officer Dr. Pankaj Shukla, Dr. Prakash Garg of Dewas and Dr. Hemant Sinha of Balaghat. Dr. Jamra of Bhopal, Dr. Nidhi Vyas of Gwalior and Dr. Sharad Pandit of Indore were honoured for excellent work.
The Chief Minister handed over campaign’s logo, memento of Sanchi Stupa and shawl made of kosa to Smt. Madhuri Dixit. He also released CD of a film based on Mamta Abhiyan, booklet containing guidelines, booklet published by Social Behaviour Cell, CD of campaign’s song and brochure of Mamta Abhiyan.
Giving information about nature of Mamta Abhiyan, Principal Secretary Health Shri Praveer Krishna informed that rural health providing system has been strengthened. Teams comprising about 75 thousand workers and 7 thousand doctors are engaged in this work benefiting 20 lakh mothers and 20 lakh children.
Minister of State for Health Shri Sharad Jain, Bhopal MP Shri Alok Sanjar and Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa were also present on the occasion.