Lahan, Nov. 5

Women delivering child at Ram Kumar Uma Prasad Memorial (R. U) Hospital have been complaining about not receiving motherhood safety allowance.

Bibha Kumari Yadav, who had come to the hospital for her delivery from Gamhariya, Siraha Municipality said, “I had a normal delivery on Monday morning at around 9 but neither was I checked by the doctor nor I received maternity allowance until Monday evening.”

The concerned department said that allowance would be provided after they would receive the budget, she said.

“Along with allowance, clothes are also distributed for the new born in Siraha hospital,” said Yadav. “Different laws and rules in the same district is beyond my understanding.”

There are over one thousand mothers who have complaints similar to Yadav.

“We have not received maternity allowance from department of health since August, which is why we are not being able to provide allowance to the new mothers,” said Sunil Kushwaha, Medical Superintendent of the hospital.

“Guardians and relatives of the new mothers have been calling and complaining about it every day,” he added.

Kushwaha said that in the previous years, new mother had been receiving Rs. 1000 as transportation allowance and Rs. 800 additional for hospital visits.

“Last year, the allowance was being provided by Lahan Municipality and we could distribute it on time,” said Kushwaha. “State 2 government has undertaken the duty of providing maternity allowance form this year.”

Even though we have been continuously approaching the state government and department of health, but we haven’t received any response from them, he added.

Also, nurses, lab technician and other officials who were appointed under CEOC program have also complained that they have not bene receiving salary since August.

Ram Sewak Thakur, a local said, “Chaudhary eye hospital, which is adjacent to R.U. hospital has been providing service of international standards.”

Commercial motive of the doctors, negative mind-set of the community and negligence of ambulance drivers are the main reasons, which have left the hospital in poor condition, said Thakur.