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New Delhi, Aug.22 (ANI): Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Anubmani Ramadoss said on Friday that no policy can be effective without taking into consideration the social reality of exclusion.
Pointing to the huge cor-relation between the low health indicators and the fact of social deprivation among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward sections and minorities, Dr. Ramadoss said that development has to be an all inclusive process. He said that without including deprived sections,growth could not be termed as real.
Ramadoss was addressing a seminar on MDG (Millennium Development Goals) and the Socially Excluded A critical appraisal organized by Indian Institute of Dalit Studies.
Talking about the better socio-economic profile of the south Indian states, he said that indepth reservation policies based on social inclusion had brought about development.
“There are important lessons as in all health indicators such as IMR, MMR and Under-Nourishment, SCs, and STs fare very poorly. However, indicators with regard to sex ratio are much better in these deprived communities as there is better value for life,” said Ramadoss.
Referring to the Prime Minister’’s emphasis on health, education and agriculture, Ramadoss expressed satisfaction for the strides made by the National Rural Health Mission.
Due to excellent performance in Janani Suraksha Yojana and other components of NRHM, he said that India is likely to achieve Millennium Development Goals with regard to Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
“However, maternal mortality remains an area of concern. This along with malnourishment remains the key focus of the government’’s efforts,” said Ramadoss. (ANI)