New student health scheme introduced

Tambaram: S.C.S.Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Parvathy Ortho Hospital, both in Chromepet, have joined hands for a `Students' Health Scheme'.School correspondent V. Santhanam said the management would remit an amount of Rs.50 per student every year to the hospital. The sum would not be taken back in any form from the student.If a student sustained an injury, he would be taken to the hospital, where the students' medical expenses to the tune of Rs.25,000 per year would be borne by the hospital, he said.

S. Muthukumar, director of the Parvathy Ortho Hospital, said all the 1,000-odd students of the school would be enrolled. Suggesting that the model be extended to other schools, he said each student would be issued a health identity card.A headmistress of a government higher secondary school near Tambaram said teams from Primary Health Centres and private hospitals visited government schools and conducted periodical checks. If a student got injured, teachers would contribute. Otherwise, the entire burden would be the parents.State secretary of the Students Federation of India G. Selva said the government should share the burden of parents whose children were injured."It is very common for students to miss the crucial examinations due to ailments. The situation is worse in government schools in rural areas," he said.