Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3434 regarding health services for the Tharu tribal community in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Shravasti and Balrampur. It outlines the support provided through national programs, state government initiatives, and specific measures for healthcare and mental health support, including post-COVID-19 initiatives. The response highlights efforts in healthcare access, insurance coverage, and mental health services.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Health Mission (NHM) Support:**
* The central government supports Uttar Pradesh through the NHM to improve healthcare accessibility and quality, with a focus on tribal and hilly areas.
* **State Government Initiatives in Shravasti and Balrampur:**
* Special health camps are being organized for the Tharu tribals in Shravasti and Balrampur districts.
* In Balrampur, Community Health Officers (CHO), ANMs, and ASHA workers provide care and family welfare services to the Tharu tribal community.
* **Ayushman Bharat Scheme Coverage:**
* In Shravasti, 632 beneficiaries have been covered with golden cards under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, compared to a total of 791 beneficiaries.
* In Balrampur, 6270 individuals in Tharu-dominated areas have benefited from the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
* **Health Services for Tribal Women and Children:**
* Health facilities are being provided in Shravasti under all health schemes.
* In Balrampur, health facilities are being expanded in Tharu-dominated areas for tribal women and children, ensuring availability of equipment, medicines, and medical staff.
* **Post-COVID-19 Mental Health Support:**
* Initiatives for psychosocial support after COVID-19 include:
* Dissemination of guidelines from NIMHANS on mental health during the pandemic.
* Launch of the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) on October 10, 2022, offering 24x7 telemental health counselling services.
* Launch of the Tele MANAS Mobile Application on October 10, 2024, for mental health support.
* Integration of mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level under Ayushman Bharat Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (ABAAM).
* Observation of World Mental Health Day on October 10 each year to raise awareness and advocate against stigma.
Impact Analysis:
* **Tharu Tribal Community in Uttar Pradesh (Specifically Shravasti and Balrampur):**
* *Impact:* Improved access to healthcare services, including specialized health camps, expanded health facilities, and mental health support. Financial relief through Ayushman Bharat scheme.
* *Action Required:* To avail of the provided healthcare services, register for Ayushman Bharat, and participate in health camps and mental health programs.
* **State Government of Uttar Pradesh:**
* *Impact:* Supported by the central government through the NHM to enhance healthcare services. Responsible for implementing health initiatives and providing data on beneficiaries.
* *Action Required:* Continue organizing health camps, expanding health facilities, and ensuring the effective implementation of mental health programs.
* **Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India):**
* *Impact:* Oversees and supports healthcare initiatives in Uttar Pradesh through the NHM and other programs. Monitors the progress and impact of these initiatives.
* *Action Required:* Continue providing support to the state government, monitoring program effectiveness, and adapting strategies as needed based on outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
Tharu tribal community: A tribal community residing in the aspirational districts of Uttar Pradesh, specifically mentioned in the context of healthcare and family welfare facilities.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where special attention is being paid to the healthcare and family welfare facilities provided to the Tharu tribal community.
Shravasti District, Uttar Pradesh: An aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh where special health camps are being organized for the Tharu tribals.
Balrampur District, Uttar Pradesh: An aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh where Community Health Officers (CHO), ANMs, and Asha workers have been selected to provide care and family welfare services to the Tharu tribal community.
Ayushman Bharat: A health insurance scheme from which youths and families of the Tharu tribe have benefited in Shravasti and Balrampur districts.
National Health Mission NHM: A program under which support is provided to all states, including Uttar Pradesh, to improve the availability and accessibility of quality healthcare services, with special emphasis on tribal and hilly areas.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences NIMHANS, Bengaluru: An institute that issued guidelines for mental health in the times of COVID-19 pandemic.
National Tele Mental Health Programme NTMHP: A program launched to provide universal access to equitable, accessible, affordable, and quality mental healthcare through 24x7 telementalhealth counseling services.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3434
TOBE ANSWERED ON08thAUGUST2025
HEALTH SERVICES FORTRIBALS IN UP
†3434. SHRIRAM SHIROMANI VERMA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is paying special attention towards the healthcare and family welfare
facilitiesprovidedtothe Tharutribal communityresiding inthe aspirational districtsof Uttar Pradesh,
particularlyinShravasti andBalrampurandif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the youths and families of Tharu tribe has been benefitted from the 'Ayushman Bharat'
scheme or otherhealthinsurance schemesinthese districts;
(c)if so, the numberof person(s) who have benefitted from these schemesso far;
(d) whether the health services have been expanded specifically for tribal women and children in
these districts, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any special initiatives have been taken for rehabilitation and mental health support after
COVID-19 inthese districts; and
(f) if so, the detailsanditsimpact thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRI PRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a): Health being a State subject, the primary responsibility for providing healthcare services lies
with the respective State Governments and Union Territories. However, under the National Health
Mission (NHM), support isprovided to all states, including Uttar Pradesh,to improve the availability
andaccessibility of quality healthcareservices for all,with special emphasis ontribal andhillyareas.
As per the information provided by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, special health
camps are being organised for the Tharu tribals in Shravasti and Balrampur Districts. In Balrampur
district, CommunityHealth Officer(CHO), ANM andAsha workers have beenselected inrural areas
to provide care and family welfare services to the Tharu tribal community where medical facilities
are beingprovidedtothe general public.
(b) & (c): As informed by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, in Shravasti district a total of 632
beneficiaries have been covered with golden cards under Ayushman Bharat scheme so far in
comparison to a totalof 791beneficiaries. Further, In the Balrampurdistrict,, 6270persons have been
giventhe benefitof Ayushman Bharat Yojana inTharudominatedareas.(d): Government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that health facilities are being provided in the
Shravasti District under all the health schemes. Also in the district Balrampur health facilities are
being continuously expanded in the Tharu tribal dominated area for the health of tribal women and
children, ensuring adequate availability of equipment and medicines including medical officer,
paramedicalstaff.
(e) & (f): Keeping in view that the impact that COVID-19 may have on the mental health of the
people including tribals of Shravasti and Balrampur districts, the Government has taken several
initiativestoprovide psychosocial support afterCOVID-19. These initiativesinclude:
i. Issuance and dissemination of detailed guidelines by the National Institute of Mental Health
and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru- "Mental Health in the times of COVID-19
Pandemic- Guidance for General Medical andSpecializedMental HealthCare Settings".
ii. The Government launched “National Tele Mental Health Programme” (NTMHP) on 10th
October 2022. It functions as the digital arm of the District Mental Health Programme to provide
universal access toequitable, accessible, affordable and qualitymental healthcare through 24x7
tele-mentalhealth counselling services.
iii. Tele MANAS Mobile Application launched on World Mental Health Day, i.e. 10th October,
2024 is a comprehensive mobile platform developed to provide support for mental health issues
rangingfrom well-beingtomental disorders.
iv. Integration of mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level. Mental health services
have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided
at Ayushman Bharat - Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AB-AAM).
v. To mobilize efforts in support of mental health and to raise awareness about mental health
issues and advocate against the social stigma that surrounds mental health, the World Mental
HealthDay isalso observed on10thOctober of each year.
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