Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

2. Equitable Development - Gujarat model :
In Gujarat, the Government does not discriminate amongst its 5.5 crore
citizens on grounds of caste, creed and religion and the State is determined to
ensure development of all as a part of its inclusive policies that of socioeconomic
development. The government has taken priority to Human
Development Index and the balanced development of the State. Gujarat State
has undertaken unique initiative such as; "Chiranjeevi Yojana", "Bal Bhog
Yojana" Fortification of Atta, "Kanya Kelavani Yatra", "Beti Bachavo"
Campaign to address the concern in health, nutrition and education status of
the entire deprived sections of the population.
A unique Public-Private-Partnership 'Chiranjeevi Scheme' has been
launched to ensure institutional safe deliveries through the participation of private
doctors. I am pleased to share with you that 865 private obstetricians are
currently enrolled with us to provide safe delivery facilities to the poor women
in the State. So far they have carried out 2.35 lakh safe deliveries for marginalized
population group in the State. Our estimate shows that more than 9000 mothers
and children have been saved due to this intervention. While the institution
deliveries' rate has gone up from 54% to 87%, 90% of these beneficiaries are
from the deprived classes of SC, ST and BPL families.
The emergency medical transport services popularly known as '108'
ambulance services have tranported more than 45000 of poorest women from
the remote areas to health-care institutions. What is interesting is that this
service has carried out 600 deliveries within their ambulances so far.
The twin evils of mal-nutrition and ill health are being attacked through the
supplementary nutrition, micro-nutrient supply orientation and protein substitution
schemes. Fortification of atta and oil, "Bal Bhog Scheme" have been launched
to improve the nutritional level among the poor children.
Almost 1.3 Cr. School Children are given yearly health check-up out of
which more than 5000 children are treated for major illness like heart, kidney
and cancer diseases. These initiatives combined with the flag-ship programmes
of "Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana", "Sagar Khedu Vikas Yojana" and
"Garibi Samrudhi Yojana" have led to a holistic approach in ameliorating
the deprived poor sections of the people of all communities. I can say with pride
and conviction that there is no room for caste rhetoric in the state. I believe only on
"Development rhetoric" which guides the state's policy of inclusive growth.
135