Women who gave birth at the Patadeval Health Post in Khaptad Chhanna Rural Municipality–6 have not received the government-provided maternity incentive for months.
Resident Rupa Thapa gave birth at the same health post last September. After receiving maternity services, she expected to receive the incentive provided for delivery and antenatal checkups. However, the health institution sent her back without payment, citing that the account was frozen. Similarly, Puja Khadka, who received delivery services at the same health post on September 19, had a similar experience. She, too, was sent back empty-handed with the assurance that she would be informed once the account became operational. She said, “Even after asking repeatedly, the money has not been received yet.”
Not only Rupa and Puja, but none of the women who received delivery services at Patadeval Health Post since last July have received the incentive. According to locals, 11 women from the Patadeval and Bayana areas have been deprived of the benefit.
The government provides Rs. 3,800 to every mother who gives birth in a health institution. However, due to delays in receiving this benefit, mothers from economically disadvantaged families have been deprived of nutritious food.
It has been reported that the disbursement process has been affected due to the absence of a health post in charge at Patadeval Health Post. As the account is jointly operated in the name of the management committee chairperson and the health official in charge, it has not been possible to operate the account in the absence of an in-charge.
AHW Jitendra Teli of the health post said that the incentive could not be distributed as the funds had not been released. He said, “Many people come to collect the money, but since the account is frozen, we have been sending them back, saying we will inform them once the funds are released. The health in charge has been transferred. Currently, due to the absence of an in-charge, the funds have not been released.”
Due to a shortage of staff and administrative delays, the incentive provided to encourage institutional deliveries has been halted, causing the greatest hardship to women from low-income families.
Tej Bahadur Khadka, Chairperson of the Health Management Committee and Ward Chair, said the problem arose because the rural municipality failed to send a health in-charge to the health post. He said, “Despite repeated follow-ups, no staff have been sent, so the distribution of the incentive has been halted. Since the funds could not be released without an in-charge, the amount has not been distributed. We have requested the municipality to send staff.”
Surendra Bahadur Rokaya, Chief of the Health Section of the rural municipality, said that a proposal has been made to send a replacement after the transfer of the health post in charge. He also stated that due to staff shortages, it has not been possible to immediately deploy personnel, and that efforts are underway to gather information on why maternity incentive payments have not been received by the women.