President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee
has expressed concern over the deficiencies in the health infrastructure of the
country. He was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of the Bansilal Malani
College of Nursing established by the Mahila Dakshata Samiti in Hyderabad.
President said that it is unfortunate
that today when average overall literacy in India was 74%, women's literacy is
less than 65%. He said a society which does not empower its women will end up
as a loser and called for renewed efforts in this direction.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said
the only long lasting solution is to create cooperative structures comprising
the government and private stake holders as well as civil society. In fact, the
developmental goals of health, education, livelihood etc. cannot be achieved by
the government alone. Such co-operative structures are relevant for all of
them.
The President said there is a phenomenal
shortage of about 2.4 million nurses in our country and a decrease in the
number of nurses from about 1.65 million in 2009 to about 1.56 million in 2015.
This indicated a worry-some trend.
He further said that at the same time,
our infrastructure also comprises of just 1.53 lakh sub-centres, 85000 PHCs and
about 5000 Community Health Centres in a nation of 130 crore people living in
more than 5000 towns and 6.4 lakh villages. It is essential to look for models
wherein all stake-holders participate rather than the government alone.
The President praised the leading role
played by the Mahila Dakshata Samiti in women’s empowerment and recalled the
contributions of the Samiti’s founding members such as Smt. Suman Krishankant,
Prof. Pramila Dandavate and Smt. Mridula Sinha, the Governor of Goa. He said
real empowerment of women would be possible only through education,
encouragement of economic self-dependence and provision of opportunities
enabling the unfolding of one’s full potential.
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