**Sending money is not the same as giving real help**

Some people in the government in Uttar Pradesh (a state in India) did something very wrong. They used the names of three women to steal money from a health program called *Janani Suraksha Yojana* (JSY). This program gives money to help women who are pregnant or have just had babies. But the scammers pretended the same three women gave birth 52 times and had 9 operations in just three years! That’s clearly not true.

The women said a local person told them to open bank accounts to get government help. But they never used those accounts. So who did? The scammers!

This shows a big problem:

Even though the government moved everything online to stop cheating, it’s still happening. Why? Because many people don’t understand how to use technology well. So they ask others to help them—and sometimes those helpers cheat them.

Also, there are too many programs giving money for health, and it’s hard to keep track. While some programs have helped reduce the number of women dying during childbirth, places like UP still have a lot of problems. Even with all these programs, women are still being promised more money during elections.

So, here’s the big question:

Is it better to give money, or to make sure hospitals and health workers are actually helping people where they live?

 

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Views expressed above are the author's own.

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