The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) has launched the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for nutritional support to tuberculosis patients as Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) from 01.04.2018.
As on 1st January 2019, out of 20.94 lakhs eligible beneficiaries, 8.78 lakh (42%) beneficiaries have received the benefit under the scheme.
The Government has taken various measures to expedite the progress under the schemes such as:
The Ministry has provided detailed guidance to the State/Union Territories (UTs) on how DBT is to be operationalized. State/UTs have been given different payment options as per their convenience for either making payment directly through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) or through the Nikshay PFMS interface
Flexibility of providing the benefit through existing bank account of a blood relative has also been given. State have also been advised to facilitate opening of zero balance accounts for TB patients, if necessary, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Indian Postal Bank.
The Ministry is regularly monitoring the implementation of this scheme and promptly addressing the challenges identified by the State/UTs.
Menstrual Hygiene for Adolescentgirls SchemesPosted On: 04 JAN 2019 4:39PM by PIB DelhiTo address the need of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls residing primarily in rural areas, Government of India is supporting the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, under which, funds are provided to States/UTs through National Health Mission for decentralized procurement of sanitary napkins packs for provision primarily to rural adolescent girls at subsidized rates as per proposals received from the States and UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans.
This scheme encompasses the following:
Increasing awareness among adolescent girls on Menstrual Hygiene
Improving access to and use of high quality sanitary napkins by adolescent girls in rural areas.
Ensuring safe disposal of Sanitary Napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.
Provision of funds to ASHAs to hold monthly meeting with adolescents to discuss issues related to menstrual hygiene.
A range of IEC material has been developed around Menstrual hygiene Scheme, using a 360 degree approach to create awareness among adolescent girls about safe & hygienic menstrual health practices which includes audio, video and reading materials for adolescent girls and job-aids for ASHAs and other field level functionaries for communicating with adolescent girls.ASHAs across the country are trained and play a significant role in promotion of use and distribution of the sanitary napkins.Department of Health Research, under the Ministry of Health, is involved in assessment of all newer, alternative, environment friendly menstrual hygiene products to look into their safety and acceptability features.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.