By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 23 Sep: Chief Secretary Radha Raturi today directed the Health Department to track the visits made by ANMs for ANC (antenatal care) of pregnant women through 104 to bring positive changes in the maternal mortality rate in Uttarakhand under SDG Index 2023-24. These directions were issued during a review meeting held in this regard at the Secretariat today. The CS directed the officials to make special efforts towards reducing the maternal mortality rate in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. She also directed the Health Department to work in mission mode and prepare an action plan soon by working with non-governmental health organisations on tracking of pregnant women, ANC, anaemia status among them across the state.
Raturi also directed the officials to count the disabled children deprived of education in the state so that efforts can be made to improve the participation of disabled children in school education, and she stated that help of four major national institutions including NIVH can be taken for the arrangement of trained teachers.
The Chief Secretary directed the Labour Department to conduct survey and collect data in relation to the target of increasing the participation of women in managerial positions in the private sector under the SDG Index. She also said that the Labour Department will be the nodal department in this regard. With respect to cases of domestic violence against women, she directed the Police Department to keep the harassed women coming to the Women Help Desk in a safe house and make arrangements for counselling of their family members. Regarding the cases of suicide in the state, the CS instructed the Police Department to collect information on suicide figures according to age so that mental health services can be arranged in this direction with a targeted approach. In cases of violence against Scheduled Castes, she emphasised on effective investigation and timely distribution of compensation. Regarding control in cases of road accidents, the CS directed the officials concerned to collect data related to black spots, crash barriers, making the Transport Department the nodal department for this purpose.
Officers of various departments including Secretaries R Meenakshi Sundaram and Dr R Rajesh Kumar were also present at the review meeting.
