Role of the State Government in Distribution of Resources Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

• Definition of Resources: The collective wealth of a country is termed as its resources. These resources can be classified into natural, material, and human resources.
• Government Function: The primary function of any government is to assess the available resources, analyze them, and plan for their effective utilization for the welfare of the citizens.
• Division of Power: Similar to the division of power between central and state governments in India, there is also a system for the division of national and state resources.
• State Governance: A crucial activity of state governance involves resource planning and allocation to meet the needs of the state's population.

Factors Involved in Distribution of Resources and Services

Earlier, the state governments carried the process of resource analysis and its allocation through the Planning Commission. The Government of India constituted the NITI Aayog or The National Institution for Transforming India to replace the Planning Commission in 2015. This was done in order to serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India in a better manner. The NITI Aayog acts as the platform of the Government of India to bring states to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters cooperative federalism.

• The recommendations made for the utilization of the available resources are taken into account by the Council Of Ministers before deciding upon the manner of resource allocation.
• Based on the discussions, the Council of Ministers makes proposals in the form of bills, and put them before the Assembly.
• The bill is introduced by the minister in charge of the department that is related to the bill.
• The minister also consults the officials who discharge daily administrative duties to understand the requirements of common people in a better way.
• The effort of the state governments should be to ensure a balanced plan for the use of available resources. Apart from equal development of all regions of the state, the government should promote social and economic justice by creating employment opportunities and focusing on backward regions.

Health

• Good health and a long life are crucial for a country's economic growth and development.
• Health is beneficial to individuals and society as a whole, saving resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment of illnesses.
• Better health reduces production losses due to illness, making a person more efficient and productive.

Definition of Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual and society at large and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Healthcare Facilities in India

• Public Healthcare Facilities:
  • The Government of India operates hospitals and health centers across the country, providing quality healthcare services at low or no cost, especially for the economically disadvantaged.
• Private Healthcare Facilities:
  • Privately-owned hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics provide services in urban and rural areas, offering specialized medical care and facilities.

National Health Mission

• The Government of India initiated the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005, followed by the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in 2013, both now part of the National Health Mission 2013.
• Components of the National Health Mission include programs for communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, injury and trauma, infrastructure maintenance, and family welfare.

Health Index

• The NITI Aayog, World Bank, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare collaborated to release a Health Index in 2019 to measure state health infrastructure improvements.
• The index is linked to incentives under the National Health Mission, encouraging states to enhance primary healthcare infrastructure.
• Kerala ranked first in overall performance according to the 2019 Health Index report.

Healthcare Policies in Kerala

Explore the healthcare policies adopted by the government of Kerala to understand how resources and services are distributed to enhance the lives of the state's residents.

• Healthcare Administration in Kerala:
  • The Directorate of Health Services in Kerala oversees preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare services.
  • Activities include establishing and maintaining healthcare institutions, controlling diseases, and providing family welfare services.
  • Key national programs in Kerala target blindness, tuberculosis, leprosy, mental health, among others.
• National Health Mission Programs:
  • Focus on upgrading rural and urban health infrastructures, including community health centers and other medical facilities.
  • A school health program aims to promote physical and mental health among students.
  • Mobile medical units provide primary healthcare services to tribal populations.
  • Accredited social health activists help rural communities access healthcare services.
  • Initiatives like Janani Suraksha Yojana target reducing maternal and infant mortality.
  • Implementation of a Health Management Information System for medical data reporting and analysis.
  • Efforts to improve immunization coverage through outreach camps and NGO collaborations.
• Healthcare Achievements in Kerala:
  • Significant progress in family welfare indicators like birth rate, death rate, and infant mortality.
  • Success factors include female literacy, delayed marriage age, status of women, NGO involvement, and socio-economic awareness.