Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, stated that over the period of years, only 50% of the approved budget by GoI could be availed due to delay in contributing state share.
Sema underlined the issue at the Mid-Term review on the National Health Mission (NHM) for the state of Nagaland, which was held at Nirman Bhavan, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi on 10 March 2023 under the chairmanship of Addl. Secretary & Mission Director, NHM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Roli Singh, IAS, according to a DIPR report.
During the meeting, Y. Kikheto Sema stated that with the implementation of NHM, the overall improvement in the Health care delivery service in the state is prominently visible with the lowest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the country, improvement in the children and immunization coverage, elimination phase of TB cases and Malaria cases and Leprosy cases eradication.
However, Kikheto said that that the short receipt of grants has not only affected the implementation of the programme but also the timely disbursement of staff salaries. The fund received over the years is just sufficient for salary and resulted in huge liability created over the years, he added.
Sema mentioned that there are more than 2000 employees under NHM with the requirement of about 70 Crore annually.
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Sema appealed to the MoHFW to consider the release of subsequent instalments even with the pending State Share. Kikheto also requested to release the approved budget in two instalments instead of the present practice of four instalments for the small and hilly States particularly Nagaland for effective implementation of the programme.
On the non-utilization of XV FC grants for Urban and Rural Health Components for the FY 2021-22, Kikheto stated that, since Nagaland is exempted from the purview of the 73rd Amendment of the Panchayati Raj Institution, the overall Health Sector is looked after by the Health & Family Welfare Department.
However, since the fund was released to Urban and Rural Departments the same could not be utilized to date. Sema stated that this matter has been discussed at the state level committee and was also of the view that the grant is implemented by H&FW which is the Nodal Department.
The Addl. Secy & MD NHM was also of the view that XV FC grants should be implemented by the H&FW Department of the state since it pertains to the Health Sector. She also agrees that smaller states like Nagaland would try to release the approved budget in two instalments instead of four.
The Ministry has by and large approved the proposal placed by the state government and advised Nagaland government to release the state share in time to enable the Ministry to release the entire approved budget.
Kikheto was accompanied by Dr. Ritu Thurr MD NHM and other Officials.
