'Balsanjeevani' campaign to check health of sugarcane cutters' children in fields and mill camps

With the crushing season under way at the state's sugar mills, special attention will be paid to the health of children who have come with sugarcane harvesting workers. A 'Balsanjeevani' campaign will be run in their temporary settlements. Minister of State for Public Health Meghna Sakore-Bordikar shared this in a press release.

Under the campaign, health check-ups of children will be held at mill premises and in sugarcane fields. Treatment and vaccination will also be provided as required.

According to the release, harvesting workers have left their homes with their families for work as the crushing season begins at sugar mills across the state. Temporary settlements have come up on mill premises and in the fields. A large number of young children are also travelling with these workers. During migration, these children find it difficult to get regular health services, check-ups and vaccination. In view of this, the health department will run the special campaign.

Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), every migrating child will be screened. The screening covers malnutrition, anaemia, developmental delays, birth defects and infectious diseases. Treatment will also be given if needed. Health workers of the area concerned, health volunteers, ASHA workers, anganwadi workers and the sugar mills' management will take part in the drive.

To implement the campaign effectively, Ms Bordikar has issued instructions to the Principal Secretary of the health department. These include preparing a list of all sugar mills in the state, surveying workers' tents and temporary settlements on mill premises, and giving children the necessary vaccinations at these very sites.

The Minister of State said harvesting workers stay away from home with their families for many days. If children fall ill, it is not possible for the workers to take them to a health centre, get regular check-ups done or have them vaccinated. There is also a risk that, because of the burden of work, children's health goes unattended. It is therefore necessary for the health system to reach the workers' tents directly and provide services.

Ms Bordikar made it clear that the main aim of the 'Balsanjeevani' campaign is to end the running around and distress parents face when their children fall ill, and to keep migrating children healthy by giving them good health facilities.