No NRHM fund yet for UP this financial year

Even as as four months of this financial year has passed, UP is still waiting for the first instalment of funds under National Rural Health Mission to be released for implementation of various health schemes in the state.

While the state's Project Implementation Plan for the current year was approved two months ago, the funds are still to be released by the Government of India.

The health authorities of the state, however, maintain that the first instalment of the funds is expected to arrive very soon. "There is no paucity of funds for NRHM. We have over Rs 1,100 crore of unspent balance which we are utilising as of now. The salaries are being paid and even the schemes are getting the funds for implementation across the state," said Mukesh Meshram, Mission Director, NRHM - UP.

Agreeing that the first instalment for NRHM for this year is awaited, Meshram said: "The funds are expected to be released this week."

The Centre has already approved a budget of Rs 4,688 crore for 2012-13 for the state on June 1, 2012. Of this, the Centre has to provide Rs 2,685 crore while the state's share is 25 per cent (Rs 895 crore). The delay in release of funds has led to lack of utilisation as well as last-minute allocation of funds by the state authorities under NRHM during the first phase of the mission.

The state government is still awaiting the GoI's nod for implementation of 'Bal Swasthya Guarantee Yojana' under NRHM this year. "Though we have in-principle approval, final approval is yet to come from the GoI," said Meshram.

Bal Swasthya Guarantee Yojana is a new project worth Rs 137 crore under which health screening and necessary treatment to over 8 crore children between the age of two and 16 will be taken up across the state in different phases. In the first year of implementation, the state government has set a target of over 2 crore children, studying in government schools — primary, secondary and high schools — in the rural areas.

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