Date:15/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/15/stories/2007111560520400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Arogya Sri all over State next year’

Special Correspondent

Avoid consanguineous marriages for healthy offspring: CM

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

CM CHACHA: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy with children affected by thalassemia at the Assembly premises in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: ‘Arogya Sri’, the health insurance scheme of the State Government for below poverty line families would be implemented throughout the State by December next year, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said.

Speaking at the Children’s Day celebrations here on Wednesday, Dr. Reddy said the scheme which took off on a pilot basis in three districts in April last would be extended to five more districts next month. Irrespective of the expenditure involved, it would be taken up all over the State next year, he said a little while after a group of thalassemia-affected called on him in the Assembly.

Study findings

The Chief Minister said studies showed that 4.1 per cent of the people were carriers of thalassemia. Their ratio could go up if pre-marriage blood examination was not undertaken. The children of the patients were bound to be affected since the disease was hereditary in nature.

Dr. Reddy gave a call to avoid consanguineous marriages as they caused health problems for the offspring. If these marriages became inevitable for some reason, the couples should take precautions by going through biological tests regularly. He expressed the government’s commitment to education, health and nutrition of poor children. It was with this goal that the government was trying to achieve saturation levels in extending scholarships and fee reimbursement to eligible students.

The Chief Minister presented cash awards to children for exceptional achievement in 2007. They included conferment of Bala Surya on a girl from Tirupati D. Mokshasree who excelled in dance. Thirteen others got Bala Ratna awards. Y.V. Anuradha, Director, Women and Child Welfare, said “Children’s right – India’s might” was the theme of Children’s Day celebrations this year. Hyderabad Collector R.V. Chandravadan also spoke.