Daijiworld Media Network - Bagalkot (SP)

Bagalkot, Nov 18: An in-depth analysis on the implementation of the state government's ambitious 'Thaayi Bhagya' scheme in this district has brought to the fore certain facts which give rise to a feeling of shock, dismay, and disbelief among well-meaning persons.

Surprisingly, if records are to be believed, some women have undergone labour pain and given birth to children twice or thrice a day, while some have delivered babies twice a week. There are some others who have completed entire cycles of pregnancy and child birth three times in six months! These strange happenings, which can put to shame any scientifically advanced countries, were revealed during checking of records under the said scheme.

The above scheme was introduced when Yeddyurappa was the chief minister of Karnataka. The primary aim of the scheme is to stop newborn from dying on account of shortage of specialist doctors in rural government hospitals. Under this scheme, women can undergo the process of delivery in hospitals with advanced facilities without having to pay any charges. The government had entered into agreement with hi-tech hospitals to pay three lac rupees for every 100 such deliveries.

After doubts arose about the genuineness of the claims, an investigation was conducted by the district health officer. The investigating officer found that irregularities amounting to about Rs 93,000 have been committed. It is gathered that Dr Jayashree Emmi, earlier working at Sai Cooperative Hospital in Beelagi who has been transferred to Vijayapura, remitted Rs 24,000 to the department of Reproductive and Child Health being excess amount wrongly claimed. This reimbursement was affected in September this year. The present report has not only recommended recovery of balance Rs 69,000 from the concerned, but also to initiate disciplinary proceedings against erring officials as per rules. It is said that fake records were created to project certain deliveries which took place in government hospitals, as having been conducted in private hospital. As a result, claims were made for conducting delivery of the same women both in government hospital and again in the private hospital.