GoI's gift to the children of Bharatpur and Alwar
SSBSK to start on a pilot basis in Bharatpur and Alwar
Jaipur, August 2026 : The Central Government is set to launch the 'Samekit Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram' (SSBSK) on a pilot basis in the Bharatpur and Alwar districts. Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary of Medical and Health, stated that this initiative will provide timely, high-quality healthcare services to young children and ensure their healthy development in these two districts.
Under this Government of India (GoI) initiative, special attention will be given to all children from birth to three years of age, and their health, nutrition, and development will be regularly monitored. Crucially, children who need more care or specialized treatment than normal will be identified early.
Rathore explained that under the programme, children will be categorized as either at-risk or normal according to their specific needs. At-risk children will receive regular home follow-ups. If required, they will be referred for treatment to the nearest health centre or a hospital.
She added that this system will allow health workers to identify issues and start treatment before a child's health deteriorates further. The ultimate goal of the programme is to reduce the mortality rate of children under five years of age.
The Principal Secretary also noted that ASHA workers will be equipped with the Shaishav App to examine children and monitor their health status. Through this app, ASHA workers can log health data, helping them easily identify which children require immediate attention or medical intervention.
Furthermore, post-hospitalization follow-ups will also be conducted. If subsequent medical care is needed, healthcare workers will receive timely information and alerts directly through the app.
In the national workshop organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in Maharashtra, the pilot action plan of SSBSK, its assessment, and the roles of the Centre, State, and partner organizations were discussed.
On behalf of Rajasthan, the Project Director of Child Health, Dr. Pradeep Choudhary, participated in the panel discussion on the Pilot Implementation Plan and Partners Engagement, where he presented Rajasthan's model.
