A State level Cycle Rally was organized to aware people about their health rights and fight against corruption in Government health services. On 18^th July, people from different blocks gathered at Jai Prakash Community Technical College, Meral in the District of Garhwa comprising village Health committees, Kaleen Bal Majdoor Mukhti Vahini and Palait Majdoor Sangh under AID banner.

The rally started on 19^thJuly 2007 for Ranchi and proceeded after being flagged off by Block Medical officer, Dr. Jaiswal. He addressed the rally about the lack of proper instruction that makes difficult to make use of the fund under NRHM. He also appreciated the effort of making people aware through rally and to draw attention of the government in providing health rights.
The rally was welcomed by Dr. I. Tiwari, Hospital Superintendent at Sadar Hospital, Garhwa who appreciated the effort for making people aware on health rights. A “nukkad sabha” was conducted where AID staff informed about objectives of the rally.

The next “Nukkad Sabha” was held at Ranka More, Garhwa and welcomed by press reporters. AID health coordinator, Mr. Laha informed people about the objectives of the rally. Mr. Vinod Pathak, editor of daily news paper “Prabhat Khabar” appreciated the effort taken by AID in making people aware on health right. Mr. Aloknath Pandey, President, R. K. Public School regretted for existing situation in health delivery system and dying of people for curative diseases like malaria and diarrhea. He flagged off the rally for Daltonganj.

Another “Nukkad Sabha” was held at Daltonganj in front of Commissioner Office where people were informed about the objectives of the rally along with awareness song on health rights.

Further, the rally reached Satbarwa and stayed at hostel of B. Ed. training school.

Day 2: 20^thJuly- Narrowcasting at the government school and “nukkad sabha” in Satbarwa bazaar was conducted by the community radio team where 12 people from Palamau joined the rally. In the market, Mr. Awadhesh Singh addressed the rally and appreciated the activity taken by AID. He flagged off the rally for Latehar.

On the way “nukkad sabha”, “nukkad natak” and narrowcasting took place in different places like Tumbagara and Bakoria.

The rally was welcomed by villagers at Manika along with PHC staff. The Block Medical Officer informed people that it is the responsibility of government to make people aware on health right but due to shortage of staff they were unable to do so. He send off the rally with full cooperation in meeting people demand presented in their memorandum.

 “Nukkad sabha” and narrow casting was conducted at Manika bazaar and welcomed with song by members of Auranga Bachau Samittee .
The rally reached Latehar where after narrow casting at Hotuwagh chowk, the holt was made at Middle School, Mananchota, Latehar.

Day Three: 21^stJuly- The rally was addressed by Mr. Sushil Agrawal, Social Worker; Mr. Kanhai Paswan, President of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and Mr. Narayan Prasad, Headmaster, Middle School who appreciated the effort taken by AID and members of CBOs. The 18 point memorandum was submitted to the DC and the Civil Surgeon, Latehar.

On the way to Kuru, the rally got a boost when their entrouge encountered Mr. Bhanu Pratap Sahi, Health Minister, Jharkhand. He addressed the rally and appreciated the effort taken by AID in generating awareness. He also informed that the Ministry is ready to give more responsibility to AID for bringing positive changes in government health delivery system by implementing “Sahaiya” under NRHM and implementation of other health project in the district.
The demand list was handed over to him and the Minister assured to fulfill all demands under NRHM and would put the matter before the Chief Minister. He also informed that the responsibility of “Sahaiya” programme will be given to AID which is in process of finalization.
Next “nukkad sabha” was held at villages Sasang and Chandwa where people were made aware on health rights through speech and narrowcasting programmes.
The group stayed in the village Ladhup 14 kms. far from Chandwa.

Day Four: 22^ndJuly- “Nukkad sabha” and “nukkad natak” were conducted at village Ladhup on health rights where villagers realized about poor health services in their area and were forced to take help of private practitioners. The same programmes by the Ciommunity radio team was conducted at Kuru Chawk, Chanho, Mander and Ratu. The “sabha” was addressed by Health Activist of AID.
The participants of the rally stayed at one of the buildings of King of Ratu on 4^th night.

Day Five: 23^rd July – The rally was addressed by Health Activists and the Chairman of Kanya Middle School, Ratu in which he informed that all officers and ministers used to take medical help from private nursing homes and they never depend on government services. So, they are not aware with the existing situation in health delivery system. He also addressed people to fight against the poor situation in health delivery system and he never thought off for taking necessary action against such corruption. The programme proceeded to Ranchi after giving green signal by the school Chairman.
The cultural programme was held at new market, Ratu where people were addressed for their health rights and were made aware about existing situation through “nukkad natak”.

After reaching Ranchi the team visited Secretariat at Nepal House to meet the Health Secretary for submission of demand list. So a group of five people from the rally visited the office and had detail discussion with the Secretary about poor health governance in Jharkhand state. They submitted the demand list to the Health Secretary Mr. Siya Ram Singh. The Health Secretary going through the list informed on the followings:

• Necessary action would be taken in filling the vacant posts especially doctors and ANMs.

• Doctors who were transferred to Bihar State from Jharkhand have been asked to join duty in their earlier allotted place.

• New Medical and Para medical collages are opening to fulfill the crisis of technical personnel.

• Additional ANM will join duty from 15^th. August 2007.

• By 2008 there will be one “Sahiya” in each panchayat supported with Village Health Committee with untied fund of Rs.10, 000/- for each committee.

• Regarding village visit of ANMs, he asked to take help of villagers for such irregularities and the same problem will automatically be solved after formation of Village Health Committee.

• He asked AID to make people aware with health rights to avoid irregularities and corruptions.

• The health department will make necessary arrangement to release fund for supply of medicine for TB and malaria patients.

• Some demands will need to be discussed with the Chief Minister and the Health Minister.

•  He also informed regarding problems faced to implement NRHM in stipulated time.

Further, the rally came to Albert Ekka Chawk, Ranchi and participated in “nukkad sabha” where people were addressed by Health Activists. The rally disbursed after speech, song and “nukkad natak” on health right. .

 Following are the demands submitted to the government officials and the Health Minister:

1. All the vacant positions at the PHCs and health departments should be immediately filled up.

2. To regularize the duties of doctors and ANMs at sub centers.

3. To reassure the visit of ANMs in villages.

4. To put the citizen charter at all the health centers.

5. To implement NRHM at the earliest.

6. To make available health services 24 hours a day at all the health centers.

7. To stop the private practices of government doctors.

8. To provide immediate health checkups of all the pregnant women at sub centers.

9. To make arrangement of pathological and reporting at all the health centers.

10. To provide all the entitlements under CM Janani Shishu Swasthaya Abhiyan to the beneficiaries.

11. To make available the requisite medicines for malaria.

12.  To reassure the referral services.

13.  To make available the medicines for skin disease at all health centers.

14. To regularize the immunization for BCG and cholera.

15.  To make life insurance for pregnant women.

16.  To make proper treatment for epilepsy and paralysis.

17. To make available anti rabies medicine at all health centers.

18. To make available complaint book at all health centers.

The major impact seen after the rally was the rising in confidence of villagers all along the route. Health issues from other districts were also identified and published in daily news papers. The rally drew attention to the senior Government and NGO officials to the failing health delivery system in the poor and the neglected districts of Palamau and Garhwa.