SP agitation for midwives

Bhopal, Aug 8 (UNI) The Samajwadi Party will stage an agitation across Madhya Pradesh tomorrow to demand for alternate employment to about 70,000 traditional 'Dais' (mid-wives), who have been rendered jobless after promoting institutional delivery.

Party Secretary and MLA Dr Sunilam told reporters here today that 'Dais' would take out rallies at district and block towns and burn Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi's effigy.

He said in order to encourage institutional delivery to reduce mortality rate during child-birth, the state government had discouraged delivery at villages leaving about 70,000 Dais jobless.

''The state government has admitted in the Assembly that there are 54,188 trained Dais (mid-wives), mostly belonging to SC and ST'', stated Dr Sunilam.

Under the Deendayal Yojana, identity cards were not issued to the people 'Below Poverty Line' depriving them of healthcare facilities, he added.

UNI