ATAL AROGYA VAHINI Adiwasi Jivan Dayini

Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra is firmly committed to ensure the health, education and nutritional status of the students of ashram schools. With the aim of providing integrated health care to the students of tribal ashram schools in Maharashtra “Atal Aarogya Vahini- Adiwasi Jeevadayini” scheme was launched  by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, at Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai in the presence of Shri. Ramaraj Nimbalkar (Chairman, Legislative Council), Shri. Haribhau Bagade (President, Vidhan Sabha), Shri Vishnu Savara (Minister, Tribal Development Department), Shri Raje Ambrishrao Atram (Minister of State, Tribal Development, Forest) and Shri. D.K. Jain, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra.

There will be 24-hour integrated health care benefits for 1.05 lac students from 301 Government Ashram Schools and 8 Eklavya Model Residency School. Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance is available, including life doctors, medical equipment like ECG, two jumbo oxygen cylinder, mechanised suction pump, glucometer, etc along with lifesaving drugs like anti snake venom, anti-scorpion venom, atropine, etc and emergency medicines.

48 well-equipped ambulances with doctors will not only provide emergency medical facilities, they would provide complete healthcare solution for children from Ashramshalas.  In this, all the students will be given in-depth health check-up, digitisation of health cards and necessary treatment as per need. Students’ digitised Health data will be used to evaluate the current health status of the beneficiary students and also to plan future health plans.

24*7 Emergency Response Centre (ERC) will act as a centralised coordinating centre for emergency medical services, regular disease burden analysis and monitoring of sickroom equipment & medicines. This ERC is designed to provide specialised consultancy services for paediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery to students of Ashram Schools.

For the implementation of this scheme, ‘School Health Committee’ has been established. This initiative comprises of parents, teachers and doctors. Committee will undertake healthcare programs such as; Health Question Manjusha, Essay and Oratory Competition, Prabhat ferry, lectures on personal and community cleanliness, free medical camps in villages etc. in the schools during the academic year. Through this, a preventive measure will be able to create awareness about preventive healthcare among students and teachers.

The scheme will be implemented in 14 ITDPs (Integrated Tribal Development Project) i.e. Kalvan, Taloda, Yaval, Nandurbar, Dhule, Rajur, Kinwat, Pandharkwada, Dharni, Kalamnuri, Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Aheri and Bhamragarh. The cost of the scheme implemented during the 3 year period is 17.82 crores per year and the cost per student is 1700 rupees per year.

Such an integrated health service will reach the ashram schools in remote areas and there will be a revolution in the health condition of the students. In this way, these competent and healthy children will surely contribute significantly in the process of integration of the great nation.

The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers, MLA, secretaries and dignitaries and has been appreciated and welcomed by all.