PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Mar 29: Tata Steel Foundation in association with HSBC has completed the distribution of e-scooters among health workers in the Kolhan region.
In its last and final phase, e-scooters were distributed among Sahiyya Sathis (accredited Social Health Activists or ASHA workers) last evening.
The programme took place at the Police Ground, Sidhgora where 150 e-scooters were distributed to address the issues related to prompt assistance to pregnant women and neonatal babies.
Earlier, 181 e-scooters were distributed on March 13, 2022, for Sahiyya Sathis across Seraikela-Kharsawan while another 234 were distributed on March 20, 2022, at West Singhbhum.
Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta was also present on the occasion.
Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice- president, of Corporate Services, Tata Steel said, “We have been working in tandem with the Sahiyya Sathis, ANMs and the state government to implement innovative public health solutions to scale sustainable impact. The electric scooters are a step ahead towards co-creation of public health solutions, which remains a commitment of Tata Steel Foundation.”
“Taking cognizance of the challenges faced by the Sahiyya and ANM Didis in reaching out to expectant women and neonates in need, the e-scooters will ensure a greater reach and faster medical assistance. Inclusion of technology and innovation in resolving the issues of efficiently covering large distances and a greater number of cases has prompted the undertaking of this initiative,” he added.
Tata Steel Foundation has collaborated with banking giant HSBC to devise 565 e-scooters to be distributed across these three locations of Seraikela-Kharsawan, West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum.
The Sahiyya Sathis are a part of the MANSI programme of the Foundation which is a community-focused public health intervention that addresses rural India’s challenges in accessing quality and affordable health care for mothers and newborn children at the household level.
Before the distribution, an adequate amount of training workshops was organised and conducted for the Sahiyya Sathis to ensure their safety and driving skills are on point.
The initiative is taken after considering the lack of availability of electricity in the respective areas and therefore the e-scooters are devised in a way so that it takes only 15 amps of power for two and a half hours to get fully charged.
They also do not require any driving license as it is below the crucial limit of power a vehicle requires to be considered a motor vehicle.
The Sahiyya Sathis have played one of the most fundamental roles in ensuring maternity and neonatal health during the time of Covid-19 when transportation was almost at a halt.
They selflessly have been the face of MANSI in reducing the neonatal deaths in Jharkhand and fortifying the healthcare system to remain prompt.
