LAUNCH OF RURAL HEALTH MISSION

The Union Government has finally launched the ambitious program to elevate the standard of living of rural poor, atleast the standard of health care with the launch of "Rural Health Mission". The program aims to bring majority of the rural poor under health insurance cover. Other salient points of this program include

• * One hospital per block
  * Integration of sanitation, health and infrastructure
  * More doctors and nurses for rural areas
  * 18 states identified as in need of improved health care in rural areas.

This is the first of the UPA government's committment to showing a "human face" to the rural voters. In tandem with President's brain child PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas), this program aims at improving the standard of living and human development indices such as Infant Mortality Rate. Let us wish that this program is fully successful. Let us also hope that corruption and partisan politics does not wreak havoc with this project atleast.

Today's Hindu carried a major advt on this program.

Yes, let us wish

• a) That the project meets with success
  b) That corruption does not raise its ugly head
  c) That beuracracy does not abort it prematurely
  d) That the new government that may come with the next election does not shelve it to the back burner
  e) That selfishness and the greed of a thousand middlemen does not stand in the way of fulfilling a poor man's need
  f) That finally, the Gandhian dream would come true

Whew! What a long wish list! May these wishes all come true for India to prosper. Amen!