
Guwahati marks World Red Cross Day with guv in attendance
Guwahati:
was observed by the
(IRCS), Assam state branch, on Thursday, with a ceremony commemorating the birth anniversary of
, the founder of the Red Cross movement, reports Rintu Talukdar.To mark the occasion, Assam state branch of IRCS unveiled the Red Cross memorial monument in honour of Dunant, Dr Poal Chandra Duarah, and Renuka Devi Barkataki — pioneers, whose dedicated service laid the foundation for the Red Cross's humanitarian work in Assam.The event was attended by the governor of Assam and president of the IRCS Assam branch, Lakshman Prasad Acharya.
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He was accorded a guard of honour by students of the Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANM) programme, symbolising the spirit of service and discipline embodied by the Red Cross.In his address, the governor emphasised the vital role of
in today's world and reaffirmed the Red Cross movement's commitment to alleviating human suffering across communities.The meeting commenced with a welcome address by AK Absar Hazarika, chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society, Assam branch. In his remarks, he highlighted the extensive range of humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the branch and emphasised its pivotal role in alleviating human suffering across the region.

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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
UP governor directs raids on ultrasound centres to curb female foeticide
Pilibhit: Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel , during a review meeting of the Red Cross Society in Pilibhit on Wednesday, issued directions to the district magistrate (DM), chief medical officer (CMO), and office bearers of the Red Cross to constitute a team and conduct a raid on ultrasound centres in the district to curb female foeticide . She said the measure was essential to address the male to female ratio imbalance in the country. The meeting was held at the Gandhi Meeting Hall of the collectorate campus as part of the governor's two-day official visit to Pilibhit. During the meeting, Patel suggested launching extensive awareness drives, particularly in rural areas, to inform people that foetal testing is a cognisable offence. The governor also emphasised the need for organising health camps across the district, especially for infants and children, and promoting homeopathic medicines due to its easy administration on children, minimal side effects, and cost-effectiveness compared to allopathic medicines. In a bid to minimise risks of cervical cancer, CMO Dr Alok Kumar, was directed to ensure HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination of all 900 students of govt-run Kasturba Kanya Vidyalayas (KKVs) in the district. Kumar said the cost of the HPV vaccine would be borne by the Red Cross as it was not available free of cost under govt supplies. "The vaccine, which costs between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000 in the open market, is administered in two doses at an interval of 6 months," he said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Citing Gujarat's success in implementing the Centre's Pravesh Utsav campaign to promote admission of all children to schools, the governor said, "Through the initiative, Gujarat recorded a 90% literacy rate in males and 80% in females, while UP stood at 73% and 52%, respectively." Calling for a resolution in promoting primary education for every child in the state, she instructed officials to chalk out a plan to effectively conduct the drives. "This is an inevitable exercise as the dropout rate of primary students is very high in UP," she said. Governor Patel also visited the Chuka ecotourism spot and reviewed the status of wildlife management and conservation at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Haryana set to roll out ‘pregnancy IDs' to tackle falling sex ratio
Gurgaon: Govt has decided that it will assign a unique ID to every pregnant woman, and it will be linked to her digital health record to help authorities monitor all cases and stop any illegal abortion attempt. The decision to assign 'pregnancy IDs' was taken at a weekly meeting of the state task force, chaired by additional chief secretary (health and family welfare) Sudhir Rajpal, in Chandigarh on Tuesday. The method of implementation for this process in all healthcare and maternity centres, including the private sector, is yet to be finalised It is the latest in a series of announcements made by Haryana govt over the past few months to improve the state's sex ratio at birth (SRB). Last year, thirteen of the state's 22 districts saw a fall in the sex ratio at birth, taking the state's overall SRB for the year to 910, its lowest since 2016. SRB is the count of girls born for every 1,000 boys. According to Tuesday's announcement, every pregnant woman must register with the local auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) or at a govt health facility within the first trimester (before 10 weeks of pregnancy). This data will be logged into the govt's Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal, which will assign a unique ID. This ID will be linked to the woman's health records, including her medical and personal details such as Aadhaar number, address, stage of pregnancy, etc. Officials said this digital record will help authorities monitor all cases, deter any illegal abortions and improve access to healthcare as well. "Unique IDs will enable the system to monitor pregnancies in real-time and identify any irregularities, especially in areas prone to gender-biased sex selection," Rajpal said. Health department officials told TOI that all registered ultrasound centres will be required to verify the pregnancy IDs before conducting the scans. This, they said, will help enforce the rule. The ID will help expecting mothers get access to govt healthcare schemes and benefits. The task force on Tuesday discussed other enforcement measures. The additional chief secretary was informed by the health department that four nursing homes in Palwal were sealed because unqualified medical practitioners were allegedly carrying out illegal abortions there. An FIR was registered and arrests were made after raids at the nursing homes. Officials said the state has restricted the number of wholesalers who deal in abortion kits from 32 to just five. Haryana has for decades struggled with a skewed sex ratio, often attributed to practices such as female foeticide and a preference for boys among families. The state's SRB, at 834, was the lowest in India when data for 2011 Census was collated. It improved its count to 923 by 2019 but the pandemic years saw a downturn. In the latest crackdown, Haryana govt directed all districts to register pregnancies and investigate any abortions beyond 12 weeks, particularly in cases in which the couple has one or more daughters. In April this year, govt also revoked registrations of 300 abortion centres and initiated action against over a dozen health department officials. These centres did not send weekly data on abortions and did not disclose reasons for allowing termination of pregnancy in some cases.


News18
2 days ago
- News18
What Is Dhaka's ‘Mini Pakistan'? Home To Bangladesh's Stranded Pakistanis
Last Updated: A viral video has reignited focus on the forgotten lives of Bangladesh's "Stranded Pakistanis". Tucked away in Dhaka's Mohammadpur area is a densely packed settlement known locally as 'Mini Pakistan'. It is a reference to the Geneva Camp, home to thousands of Urdu-speaking Muslims and Muhajir or Bihari Muslim settlements. A video of the camp shot by influencer RK Sohan went viral bringing attention to the deplorable conditions of the camp. The camp consists of many Urdu-speaking Muslims from Bihar and other parts of India moved to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). They are referred to as 'Stranded Pakistanis" or 'Biharis' by Bangladesh government. A recent report by Bangladesh's Daily Star reported that the settlement now sees regular clashes between armed gangs. These gangs have reportedly stolen guns from police during the recent regime change and clashes that erupted across the country between protesters and police. The protests which led to the regime change was partly hijacked by Islamists who continue to take advantage of the fragile law and order situation of the country. Why Is Geneva Camp Called Mini Pakistan? During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, most Biharis supported West Pakistan. This made them targets of hostility during and after the war. When Bangladesh became independent, these communities were left stateless and were rejected by both Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Geneva Camp was established by the Red Cross after the war to house these displaced people. It remains one of the most densely populated and underdeveloped urban slums in the city. Locals and outsiders colloquially call it 'Mini Pakistan" because of the population's cultural affinity to Pakistan, especially language (Urdu), food and dress, and due to their historical loyalty to Pakistan. What Is The Legal Status Of Its Residents? For decades, the residents were stateless. In 2008, the Bangladesh High Court ruled that those born in the country after 1971 are Bangladeshi citizens and can vote. Despite this, many still live in limbo as they lack proper documentation, economic opportunities and social integration. The term 'Mini Pakistan" is sometimes used derogatorily, especially by Bangladeshi nationalists. Residents of Geneva Camp often feel marginalized and excluded, though a new generation identifies more with Bangladesh. Pakistan has been largely reluctant to take them back, despite initial promises post-1971. First Published: June 03, 2025, 18:57 IST