Atal Sneh Yojana is a health initiative launched by the Gujarat government to ensure the well-being of newborns. This scheme, launched on December 25, 2016, marks the ninety-second birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative is aimed at providing comprehensive health checkups and immediate treatment for newborns up to two months old. The primary goal is to address and prevent serious health issues right from birth, thereby improving overall child health in the state.
Under this scheme, newborn children are screened for health defects and provided with immediate treatment if any issues are detected. This initiative was implemented to replace the decades-old Annual School Program, which was previously managed by the health and education departments. The launch event took place at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, where the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Vijay Rupani, emphasized the importance of this scheme in ensuring a healthy start for children. The scheme aims to reach newborns across the state, focusing on preventing malnutrition, disorders, and diseases that are prevalent among newborns.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Name of the Yojana | Atal Sneh Yojana |
| State | Gujarat |
| Initiated By | Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Vijay Rupani |
| Yojana Overview | Atal Sneh Yojana was launched on December 25, 2016, to provide comprehensive health checkups and treatments for newborns up to two months old. The scheme focuses on screening newborns for health defects and providing immediate treatment if needed. It aims to ensure better health for children and prevent serious health issues. |
| Beneficiaries | Newborn children up to two months old |
| Registration Process | Offline: Visit the nearest Anganwadi Centre or District Child Protection Officer office, fill out the application form, and submit it with required documents. |
| Official Website | gujaratindia.gov.in |
Table of Contents
Objectives of Atal Sneh Yojana
The primary objective of Atal Sneh Yojana is to provide better health outcomes for newborns. This is achieved through the following goals:
- Improving Child Health: The scheme aims to provide better health for children, which helps in avoiding malnutrition, disorders, and diseases. By ensuring immediate medical attention for newborns, the scheme seeks to prevent long-term health complications.
- Early Detection and Treatment: The scheme focuses on early detection of health defects in newborns. This allows for immediate treatment, which is crucial in addressing serious health issues such as birth defects and genetic disorders.
- Reducing Infant Mortality Rate: By providing timely medical interventions, the scheme aims to reduce the infant mortality rate. Ensuring that newborns receive proper health care right from birth can significantly lower the number of infant deaths.
- Enhancing Public Health: The scheme contributes to the overall improvement of public health by ensuring that the youngest members of society receive the care they need. This leads to a healthier population and reduces the burden on the healthcare system.
- Building a Stronger Nation: By focusing on the health of newborns, the scheme aims to build a stronger young generation. Healthy children grow up to be healthy adults, contributing positively to the nation’s development.
Registration Process
The registration process for Atal Sneh Yojana is conducted offline. Here is a step-by-step guide to registering for the scheme:
- Visit Nearest Anganwadi Centre or District Child Protection Officer Office: Parents or guardians need to visit the nearest Anganwadi Centre or the office of the District Child Protection Officer to obtain the application form.
- Fill Out the Application Form: The application form must be filled out with all the required details. This includes personal information of the child and parents, as well as any relevant health details.
- Attach Necessary Documents: Applicants need to attach the necessary documents with the application form. These documents include the birth certificate of the child, income certificate of the parents, and Aadhar card details.
- Submit the Application Form: Once the form is filled and the documents are attached, it should be submitted to the Anganwadi Centre or the District Child Protection Officer’s office.
- Verification Process: The application will be verified by the officials. Once the verification is complete, eligible applicants will be selected for the scheme.
- Receive Benefits: The selected applicants will be provided with the benefits under the scheme, including health checkups and necessary treatments for the newborn.
Benefits of this Yojana
Atal Sneh Yojana offers several benefits aimed at ensuring the health and well-being of newborns:
- Comprehensive Health Checkups: Newborns will receive thorough health checkups to detect any health issues early. This ensures that any potential health problems are identified and addressed promptly.
- Immediate Treatment: If any health defects or illnesses are detected during the checkups, the scheme provides immediate treatment. This is crucial in preventing the escalation of health issues.
- Follow-Up Care: Children who receive treatment under this scheme will also benefit from follow-up care. Health workers will monitor their progress and ensure that they continue to receive the necessary medical attention.
- Specialized Surgeries: The scheme includes provisions for specialized surgeries, such as cochlear implants for children born with hearing and speech impairments. This ensures that children with specific health needs receive the appropriate care.
- Support for Non-Institutional Deliveries: In cases where children are born outside institutional settings, social health care activists and members of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) will arrange for proper screening and treatment.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for Atal Sneh Yojana are straightforward:
- Newborn Children: All newborn children up to two months old are eligible for the scheme. This includes both institutional and non-institutional deliveries.
- Age Limit: The primary criterion is the age of the child, which should not exceed two months. This ensures that the scheme focuses on the most critical early period of a child’s life.
Required Documents
To apply for Atal Sneh Yojana, the following documents are required:
- Birth Certificate: Proof of the child’s birth is necessary to establish eligibility.
- Aadhar Card of Parents/Guardians: The Aadhar card serves as proof of identity for the parents or guardians.
- Income Certificate: This document may be required to verify the economic status of the family.
- Health-Related Documents: Any relevant health documents that might be needed for the treatment of the child should be submitted.
