Assembly panel expresses concern over high IMR in NGH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 14, 2020

The Assembly’s Committee on Women Empowerment on Wednesday expressed concern over the alarming rise of the infant mortality rate (IMR) in North Garo Hills district.

“84 infant deaths between 2019 -2020 till date indicate serious concern on anti and post natal care of newborns,” chairperson of the committee, Ampareen Lyngdoh said.

She however said that the maternal mortality rate (MMR) data has improved substantially from the last review undertaken by the committee two years ago.

“Numbers of home delivery continue to be high at 93 despite the PMVVY increasing a watchful supervision through institutions of 11 PHCs, 50 Sub Centres & 1 CHC in North Garo Hills,” she said.

Stating that the MHIS coverage was under 50 % in the district, she said the inability to reach out to citizens was a huge concern.

With regards to the implementation of the MGNREGA, Lyngdoh said the district has recorded a high registry of women in the job card scheme with 31,435 enrolments, as compared to the 9748 males registry.

In Kharkutta, up to 11 & 4 women were voted to the office of President & Secretary. The Committee took note of this good practice and recommended its replica in all parts of the state, she said.

During their visit, the committee also held a review meeting with DC, SP and officials of the Social Welfare, PHE, Food & Civil Supply departments at Resubelpara.

The committee observed that follow up and processing of POCSO cases were slow. Many cases remained pending and incomplete from 2015  onwards. Occurrence of Domestic violence and crimes against women and children were fewer as compared to some parts of the state. 

“This delay in processing of cases was due to frequent transfers in the Women Police Station – it was observed that there is an urgent need to ensure that WPS should perform and deliver. Overall law and order seemed attended to in the district,” Lyngdoh said.

“Victims of CAW&C require focused, consistent counselling and hand-holding other than provision of safe house facility, the Social Welfare Department needs regular reviewing and re-enforced dealing of cases to achieve expected results,” she added.

Stating that the Jal Jeevan Mission lacked focus, the chairperson said that house water connections in itself is a sound vision but coordination and evaluations of the water supply chain should precede all procedures for a successful and result oriented approach.

Several PHCs, CHS, Health Sub Centres, Aganwadi Center’s, Educational institutions still don’t have portable PHE connections, she said.

The committee also stated that registration of Aadhaar continues to be a challenge in the district. PMAYG, NSAP and now NSFA are schemes for the underprivileged and marginalised sectors.

In all of the district coverage is poor due to issues of poor network, difficult terrain, lack of awareness, weather conditions, transportation of citizens to registering centres and coordination between departments. Manpower and departmental infrastructure also remain key reasons for slow coverage under Aadhaar.

She said the district Aadhaar Nodal officer reported that non availability of manpower to operate kits for Aadhaar registry would further slow down the process of registration.

She said NSFA & Non NFSA coverage was a little over 50 % in the district, over 6730 families received food grain under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme in the recent lockdown period indicating that citizens without Ration Cards continue in to be outside of the food security net, raising a serious concern on the matter.