Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said all the centres of the Rogi Kalyan Samitis, which seek to facilitate delivery of quality assured health services through the hospitals, would be given Rs.5 lakh each as seed money.
Addressing the concluding session of the 95th two-day Bhagidari workshop at Delhi Secretariat, the Chief Minister said the aim of the workshop was to sensitise the members of RKS about their roles and responsibilities and to get their feedback.
Like the Vidyalaya Kalyan Samitis, the Chief Minister expressed hope that the RKS will also bring about a positive change in the working of government hospitals. She said all the RKS centres have already been given Rs.5.lakh as initial seed money for maintenance. She said depending on the number of beds with them, the Delhi Government could also ultimately pay them between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.15 lakh each.
The meeting, which was also attended by Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia and senior Health Department officials, also deliberated the issue of optimal utilisation of funds and resources by the RKS and how they could lead to increased responsiveness of health institutions to the needs of the society through active participation of the communities as an important stakeholder.
The RKS, it was brought out, were supporting in the endeavour by providing greater powers and autonomy to the medical superintendents and dispensary in-charges.
Functioning in a facilitating and supportive role, they were also ensuring community participation in monitoring the functioning of the health care facilities and in improving the service delivery through a mechanism of prioritised, rational and transparent use of flexible funds made available to the hospitals and dispensaries.
