Midwives ask for recognition of work, incentives

GANDHINAGAR - A convention of around 1,500 ‘dais’ (midwives) from 15 districts of Gujarat has sought recognition of their work with a small monetary incentive to further reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.

Mirai Chatterjee, social security director of Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) said Monday that the day-long convention organized jointly by the Dai Sangathan, a set up of 8,000 members involving 25 NGOs and the state health department, also sought identity cards, training and support for their services, especially in interior villages.

Chatterjee said the convention, which discussed the achievements and the problems faced in day-to-day operations in rural areas, urged for facility of bus passes for rural travel, insurance under the Rashtriya Bima Swasthya Yojana (RSBY) and priority for their daughters and daughters-in-law to be nominated as ‘ASHA’ workers in their respective villages under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).