Atal Sneh Yojana

Atal Sneh Yojana is a health scheme of the Gujarat government made for newborn children. Under this scheme, every baby born in the state gets free medical screening within the first two months of life to find out birth defects, genetic disorders and other health problems at an early stage. When any illness is found, the child receives specialist treatment and regular follow-up care from health workers at no cost.

Atal Sneh Yojana was launched on December 25, 2016, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The scheme is run by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Gujarat and it continues to support newborn children across the state in 2026.

Atal Sneh Yojana - Introduction

Atal Sneh Yojana is a state-level health scheme that replaced the decades-old Annual School Program carried out by the health and education departments. The focus has now moved to the earliest stage of life, so newborn children are screened for health defects instead of only older school children.

The main aim of the scheme is to give every child a healthy start. Around seven percent of newborn babies in the country suffer from some kind of disorder every year, and early detection helps doctors treat these problems before they become serious. By finding health issues in the first two months, the government wants to improve the long-term health of children and build a stronger young generation.

The scheme covers both government and private hospital births. A team of doctors, female health workers and child protection officials visits hospitals to check the health of newborn babies. Babies with serious conditions are referred to nearby medical centres for better treatment.

Key Information

Core Objectives

The scheme works on a few clear goals to protect the health of newborn children in Gujarat.

• Provide better health to children so that malnutrition, common disorders and chronic diseases can be avoided from an early age.
• Reduce the number of newborn babies suffering from disorders, which is a serious concern at the international level, through early screening and management.
• Build a stronger and healthier young generation that can add to the strength of the nation in the coming years.

Health Problems Covered

Many newborn babies face serious health problems, and early detection is the key to treating them well. Doctors screen babies for conditions such as:

• Complicated birth defects
• Down's syndrome
• Congenital deafness
• Club foot
• Neural tube defects

Some diseases stay hidden in the genes and show up only later. By checking children at a tender age, doctors are able to treat these conditions in a better way. Health issues detected at government maternity homes are fully taken care of by the state government.

Benefits

Atal Sneh Yojana provides complete medical support to make sure infants get the care they need. Eligible families can expect the following benefits for their child:

• Expert Consultations: Any health concern found during screening leads to an immediate referral to a specialist or a local health facility for proper treatment.
• Continuous Care: Infants diagnosed with chronic or genetic conditions receive professional treatment and regular follow-up visits from family health workers.
• Thorough Screenings: The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) helps arrange detailed checkups at both private and government hospitals.
• Outreach Support: If a baby is born outside a hospital, social health workers and RBSK members carry out the required screenings at local centres.
• Specialized Surgery: The government provides dedicated support for cochlear implant surgery for children born with hearing or speech problems.

Eligibility

The eligibility conditions of Atal Sneh Yojana are simple and cover all newborn children in Gujarat. To take part in the scheme, the child must meet the following criteria:

• The child must be a newborn.
• The child must be within the age limit of up to two months from the date of birth.

The scheme covers both institutional deliveries, where the baby is born in a hospital, and home births, where ASHA workers and RBSK teams carry out the screening.

Application Process

Steps to Access Services

Parents can follow these steps to secure health services for their newborn child under Atal Sneh Yojana.

STEP 1 - Visit the nearest Anganwadi Centre or the local District Child Protection Officer office to request the enrollment form.

STEP 2 - Fill out the form carefully with accurate details about the child and the family.

STEP 3 - Attach photocopies of the required documents, such as the child's birth certificate and the Aadhar card of the parents or guardians.

STEP 4 - Submit the completed set of documents to the official at the Anganwadi Centre or the designated district office.

STEP 5 - Once officials verify the application, they guide the family through the process of receiving medical benefits and checkups for the baby.

Documents

When applying for the health benefits under Atal Sneh Yojana, keep these documents ready:

• Child's Birth Certificate
• Aadhar card of parents or legal guardians
• Any existing medical records or reports related to the child's identified health issues

References

Mari Yojana Official Portal of Gujarat

FAQ's

What is the primary purpose of Atal Sneh Yojana?

Atal Sneh Yojana is a government scheme aimed at securing a healthy and stronger young generation by identifying and treating health disorders in infants during their first two months of life.

What specific benefits does my child receive?

Your child receives a thorough health checkup, timely medical screenings for genetic and physical disorders, specialized treatment for identified illnesses, and continuous follow-up care from trained health workers.

What is the age requirement for a child to be eligible?

This scheme is designed for newborn children up to the age of two months from their date of birth.

How can I apply for these health benefits?

Visit your nearest Anganwadi Centre or the District Child Protection Officer office to collect and submit the application along with the birth certificate and Aadhar card.

Which documents do I need to bring for the application?

You should provide the birth certificate of the child, the Aadhar card of the parents or guardians, and any relevant medical reports if the child has already been diagnosed with a health condition.