Lok Sabha Question No. 138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Deaf and Dumb Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 138 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JUNE,2019

## DEAF AND DUMB CHILDR EN

## 138. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of deaf and dumb children in the country, State/UT -wise;
- (b) status of implementation of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram in the State of Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) whether expenditure under the above programmes in Andhra Pradesh has come down from more than Rs. 8 crore in 2015- 16 to about Rs. 4.5 crore in 2017 - 18 and its reasons for reduced expenditure during  the  last  four  years  and  the expenditure  incurred  in  2018 - 19  underabove programmes in Andhra Pradesh, if so, the reasons for reduced expenditure during the period; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to make people aware of the above programmes so that they can take b nefits u nder these schemes?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): There  is  no  National  Registry  maintained  at  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfa regarding the number of deaf and dumb children in the country.
- (b): Under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) ,approvals have been given to implement the Programme in twelve districts. However, State Government yet to implement the programme after bifurcation of the erstwhile  State of Andhra Pradesh.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is being implemented by the Government of India  from  year  2013,  for  screening  children  from  0 -18  years  of  age  for  4  D's  i.e.  Defects, Deficiencies,  Development  Delays  inclu ding  Disability  for  30  selected  health  conditions.  As reported by the State of Andhra Pradesh, the physical achievement is as follows:

|                                       | FY 2015-16   | FY 2016-17   | FY 2017-18   | FY 2018-19   |
|---------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| Total Children screened (0 -18 years) | 15,15,882    | 17,88,706    | 74,22,924    | 48,63,803    |
| Children identified with 4Ds          | 2,08,531     | 1,97,590     | 73,645       | 1,09,287     |
| Children referred                     | 1,25,327     | 99,629       | 74,065       | 1,08,597     |
| Children availed services             | 50,021       | 98,952       | 68,302       | 78,569       |

(c): Under NPPCD, financial support is provided to States/ UTs to strengthen their healt systems based on the requirements posed by the States/ UTs in their Programme Implementat Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope. Under NPPCD, the expe nditure has been nil in 2015 - 16, 2016 - 17, 2017 - 18 and 2018 - 19 because the state Government is yet to implement the Programme in Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh.

Further, as reported by the Government of Andhra Pra esh, expenditure incurred under RBSK duringlast three years and 2018 - 19 is as follows :

| Financial Year   |   Expenditure (Rs in Lakhs) |
|------------------|-----------------------------|
| 2015- 16         |                      810.6  |
| 2016- 17         |                      395.66 |
| 2017- 18         |                      694.78 |
| 2018- 19         |                     2570.38 |

Rs. In Lakh

The implementation of the National Health Mission (NHM), under which RBSK is being implemented  and  issues  related  thereto  lie  entirely  in  the  domain  of  respective  Sta Government (s).

- (d): Under RBSK, specific IEC (Information, Education and Communication) is targeted t make people a ware.  In addition, the following steps have been taken to make people aware NPPCD being implemented for hearing impaired children: -
- IEC material has been developed and distributed to States as well as uploaded on Ministry's website www.mohfw.nic.infor easy access by State Nodal Officers (SNOs) for creating awareness among general public on prevention of deafness under NPPCD Funds for IEC activities are allocated @ Rs.20.00 lakh per State/UT and @Rs.2.00 lakh per implementing districts.
- World Hearing Day is celebrated every year on 3rd March and on this occasion, various activities are conducted at Central and State/UT level.
- Telecast of video spots on Doordarshan and Radio spots/jingles and ra dio programmes through various channel of All India Radio and LokSabha TV is taken up regularly.
- Inter - personal  communication  at  PHC  (Primary  Health  Centre)  /CHC  (Community Health Centre) /District level by various Health functionaries.