During the inaugural event, the Chief Minister highlighted that the only effective and proven prevention against a severe disease like polio is timely and consistent vaccination. He delivered a strong message to the public, warning that even a slight negligence or complacency could adversely impact a child’s future. He passionately appealed to all parents, guardians, and community leaders to visit their nearest vaccination booths and ensure their children under five receive the vital ‘two drops of life’. Bringing smiles to the young faces present at the launch, the Chief Minister also distributed chocolates to the children immediately after administering the drops, creating a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere for the families.

Poster Launch and Strict Directives to the Health Department

Marking the beginning of the campaign, CM Sharma unveiled the official awareness poster themed ‘Do boond har baar polio par jeet rahe barkarar’ (Two drops every time, maintaining victory over polio). He issued clear and strict directives to the top officials of the Medical and Health Department to ensure that the campaign achieves 100 percent coverage. He stressed that not a single eligible child in the state should be left behind, regardless of their geographical location. Under this strategic campaign, children up to five years of age will receive the drops at designated booths on the first day (June 28). To ensure total coverage, this will be followed by an intensive door-to-door vaccination drive conducted by dedicated health teams over the subsequent two days.

Massive Mobilization: Over 1 Crore Children to be Covered

The three-day statewide campaign, scheduled to run from June 28 to June 30, targets an estimated 1.04 crore children across Rajasthan’s diverse landscape. To facilitate this massive logistical exercise and reach every corner of the state, the health department has established a sprawling network of 59,217 polio booths. Furthermore, a total of 75,232 dedicated teams, comprising trained health workers, ASHA Sahyoginis, and Anganwadi workers, have been deployed. Recognizing the challenges of vaccinating children in transit and reaching nomadic communities or those living in remote desert areas, the state has uniquely mobilized 7,011 transit teams and 9,004 mobile teams, who will remain actively on duty at railway stations, bus stands, and major highways.

Sustaining India’s 15-Year Polio-Free Streak

The significance of this campaign is amplified by the fact that India has successfully prevented any new polio cases for the past 15 years. The country’s relentless public health efforts were globally recognized when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially awarded India its polio-free certification on March 27, 2014. Maintaining this status requires continuous vigilance, making campaigns like this absolutely crucial. The prestigious launch event in Jaipur was attended by Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Heeralal Nagar, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Akhil Arora, Principal Secretary of the Medical and Health Department Gayatri Rathore, along with several other senior administrative officials, healthcare professionals, and enthusiastic parents.

Conclusion: The successful launch of the Pulse Polio campaign by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma marks a crucial milestone in the state’s ongoing public health initiatives. With extensive preparations by the health department, grassroot-level mobilization, and active public participation, the Rajasthan government is fully equipped to ensure that every child remains permanently safeguarded against the threat of polio, keeping the nation’s proud polio-free legacy intact.

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