Ujjain : For the second time within a time period of six months the Janani Express Yojna, pilot project of the government to benefit the expectant mother stopped their services due to non-payment of the funds. On Thursday it had been more than 24 hours since the contractor stopped the services and more than 100 calls of expectant mothers, sick infants were reportedly received at various call centers of the government. This time these immediate patients got no relief from the 108 emergency services as they also joined the strike. Earlier same situation had arisen in December 2014, when Janani Express services were barred by the service provider. But at that time all the calls made to Janani Express were diverted to 108 ambulances, which this time is too unavailable.
The Janani Express Yojana aims at providing benefit of transportation to all of the expectant mothers for their institutional deliveries. It would benefit them also in emergency circumstances during pre and post-delivery periods. Besides, eligible beneficiaries of Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojana and sick infants are also be benefited by the transportation facility for their casual medical treatment under the scheme.
The contractor of Janani Express has stopped the service due to non-payments of their funds and salaries for over three months. According to the service provider, more than Rs 24 lakh are to be paid by the health department. The staff over the non-payments has called a strike demanding the payment. A driver of such service alleged that their salaries have not been issued from the months of November, and they have no choice. The health department said, the government has not released the funds for the payments of the service provider. However, CMHO Dr Ashok Yadav said, talks with the operator are in progress, services will be resumed soon.
