Allocation for National Rural Health Mission enhanced

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) The Government has proposed to increase the allocation for National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to Rs 12,050 crore.

Presenting the General Budget 2008-09 in Lok Sabha today, Finance Minister P Chidambaram stated that NRHM is the key instrument of intervention by the Central Government. He said the goal is to establish a fully functional community owned, decentralized health delivery system. 462,000 Associated Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and link workers have been trained and are in place. 177,924 Village Health and Sanitation Committees are functional. 323 district hospitals have been taken up for upgradation.

Mr Chidambaram further stated that the National Aids Control Programme would be provided Rs 993 crore. On the other hand an amount of Rs 1,042 crore will be provided for polio eradication programme in 2008-09.

UNI RP HS1351