From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 4: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s `Danta Bhagya' Scheme aimed at distributing free dentures to senior citizens with complete tooth loss, which was launched last year with all fanfare, seems to be afflicted with teething troubles.

According to official information, the ambitious 'Danta Bhagya' scheme has barely benefitterd 1000 senior citizens in the last one year.

Siddaramaiah had launched the scheme with much fanfare on December 7 last year.

The scheme piloted by State’s Health Minister U T Khader seems to be struggling with lack of awareness, delays in disbursement of funds to dental colleges and other technical obstacles.

The State Health Department is now planning a massive awareness camp simultaneously in all districts on January 8. People will be screened and also provided with dentures on the spot.

Services of ASHA workers, which is vital to popularise the scheme, could not be utilised for several months as the software that lists the schemes for payment of incentives to the workers did not mention ‘Danta Bhagya’.

'Danta Bhagya' scheme has now been included following which ASHA workers will get Rs. 100 for every case they refer to the Dental College in the district concerned.

The scheme was aimed at providing free dentures to at least 30,000 senior citizens (aged 60 or above) belonging to the below poverty line families.

A senior health official said that the district health officers had been instructed to initiate measures to popularise the programme.

With 11 districts in the State not having dental colleges, those from neighbouring districts have been directed to organise camps and create awareness there. The Health Department is expecting to screen at least 20,000 people at the camps.The Asha workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwifes (ANM) have been directed to identify eligible people in their jurisdiction and bring them to the hospitals.The Health Department had entered into a memorandum of understanding with 45 government and private hospitals for the implementation of the scheme.The State Government’s Oral Health Policy Committee will monitor the camps and the implementation of the 'Danta Bhagya' scheme.