The Union government has granted Rs 88.36 crore to Karnataka for 2006-2007 under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) programme. The state had received Rs 104 crore in 2005-06.

As part of the grant, the State Rural Health Mission (SRHM) set up under NRHM has set a target of making Karnataka 'healthy state' by 2012 by providing accessible, accountable and reliable primary healthcare facilities to all, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections.

The State mission monitors the implementation of healthcare schemes in the state. The key objectives of the mission include reduction of infant mortality rate to 30 for every 1,000 live births, total fertility rate to 2.1 per cent and maternal mortality rate to 100 for every one lakh live births. It also seeks to increase vaccination coverage and reduce deaths caused by malaria, filaria and dengue. Only 31.5 per cent of women received antenatal care services in the state in 2002 and plans are underway to ensure that adequate care is provided in this regard.

The mission's plan is aimed at reducing regional imbalances in the areas of sanitation, nutrition, safe drinking water, optimisation of health manpower, including ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy, de-centralization and district (?) management of health programmes, community participation and ownership of assets.

The first official meeting of the SRHM was held in Bangalore recently after the Union government launched the national mission on April 12, 2005, which will be in force till 2012.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who is also the president of the SRHM, called upon the health officials and presidents of zilla Panchyats to utilize the funds granted by the Centre to bridge the gap in rural health services through creation of Accredited Social Health Activists and improved hospital care.

Over the last six months, the Karnataka chief minister had received several complaints about the poor health conditions seeking financial support. With the mission being implemented at the district level, the state chief minister is in the process of ensuring that the presidents of the local bodies take on the responsibility to execute it and improve the service delivery at all levels.