‘All may not get to fight at border, but fight social evils': Delhi CM
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday, saying all citizens may 'not get an opportunity to die for the country at the border', exhorted Delhi residents to contribute towards national development and 'fight social evil' at home on the lines of soldiers fighting for the country.
Speaking at a conference and annual accolades ceremony for women doctors at the India International Centre, she said: 'We are all hearing about the developments on the borders...Lakhs of jawans are protecting you and me on the borders and we naturally feel like contributing to it... but we will not get a chance to go on the border or to shoot at the enemy...we will not get the opportunity to die for the country but all of us have the opportunity to live for it. From this moment onwards, start living for the country...just like country's soldier are fighting on the border, we have the responsibility to fight the social evils and bad customs in our society...'
She underlined the need to view each citizen as a national asset. 'If every one of our 140 crore people works with dedication, some for their families, and some for the country, India will certainly move forward,' she said.
She also lauded the contribution of mothers and doctors to society on the occasion of Mother's Day, calling them the two pillars of life. 'One battle is fought at the border, carried on our soldiers' shoulders. But the other lies within society, against bad habits, unhealthy practices and negative thinking. That too, we must fight.'
Gupta also spoke about the growing concern of obesity, especially among women, and emphasised the importance of prioritising health and diet.
'Obesity must end. Women often focus on caring for everyone else, but during Covid-19, I realised that we must take care of ourselves first,' she said. 'After God, if there's anyone we place our trust in, it's our mothers and our doctors — one gives us life, and the other saves it.'
Encouraging women to take charge of their well-being, she praised the government's efforts to make fitness accessible, highlighting the installation of open gyms in parks across the city. 'If there's a need, we will set up more such gyms. Our vision is a healthy India, and the foundation starts with healthy families,' she said.
Earlier in the day, Gupta attended the 36th Rath Yatra at Shree Mahaveer Digambar Jain Mandir in Pitampura.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
28 minutes ago
- Economic Times
86.5 lakh deaths in 2022, 15% dip over Covid-hit 2021: CRS data
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Nearly 86.5 lakh deaths were reported in the country during 2022, a significant decline of more than 15% from Covid-affected 2021 which had recorded over 1.02 crore deaths, according to a new data from the Civil Registration System CRS ).The dip of 15.74 lakh from 2021 brought mortality figures broadly back in line with pre-pandemic patterns last seen in 2020, the data for 2022 brought out by the office of the Registrar General of India through CRS report to the CRS data, 2021 registered a sharp spike with 1.02 crore deaths across the country as compared to 81.1 lakh in 2020, 76.4 lakh in 2019, and 69.5 lakh in 2018, underscoring the impact of COVID-19."In the case of registered deaths, the number has decreased from 102.2 lakh in 2021 to 86.5 lakh in 2022, i.e. a decrease of 15.4%. Some of the major states namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana have contributed significantly to the decreased number of registered deaths," the report 5.26 lakh deaths were reported due to COVID-19 till July 26, 2022, according to a reply given by the government in the Lok Sabha on July 29, World Health Organisation had reported over 47 lakh COVID-19 linked deaths in India which was strongly disputed by the government. The Centre had said the WHO estimates suffered from "a number of inconsistencies and erroneous assumptions"."India had registered a strong objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this unscientific modelling approach especially when India had provided authentic data published through Civil Registration System by Registrar General of India to WHO," the government reply had CRS report also showed that over 2.54 crore births were registered in 2022."The number of registered births has increased from 242.0 lakh in 2021 to 254.4 lakh in 2022, an increase of about 5.1%," the report has been an increase in 2022 in registered births in almost all states and UTs, except Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep as compared to major states namely, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Assam have contributed significantly to the increase in registered births in 2022 over 2021, the report said."On the other hand, decrease in registered births in six figures has been observed in two major states namely, West Bengal and Bihar during 2021-2022," it said.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
86.5 lakh deaths in 2022, 15 pc dip over Covid-hit 2021: CRS data
New Delhi, Nearly 86.5 lakh deaths were reported in the country during 2022, a significant decline of more than 15 per cent from Covid-affected 2021 which had recorded over 1.02 crore deaths, according to a new data from the Civil Registration System . The dip of 15.74 lakh from 2021 brought mortality figures broadly back in line with pre-pandemic patterns last seen in 2020, the data for 2022 brought out by the office of the Registrar General of India through CRS report showed. According to the CRS data, 2021 registered a sharp spike with 1.02 crore deaths across the country as compared to 81.1 lakh in 2020, 76.4 lakh in 2019, and 69.5 lakh in 2018, underscoring the impact of COVID-19. "In the case of registered deaths, the number has decreased from 102.2 lakh in 2021 to 86.5 lakh in 2022, i.e. a decrease of 15.4 per cent. Some of the major states namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana have contributed significantly to the decreased number of registered deaths," the report said. Around 5.26 lakh deaths were reported due to COVID-19 till July 26, 2022, according to a reply given by the government in the Lok Sabha on July 29, 2022. The World Health Organisation had reported over 47 lakh COVID-19 linked deaths in India which was strongly disputed by the government. The Centre had said the WHO estimates suffered from "a number of inconsistencies and erroneous assumptions". "India had registered a strong objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this unscientific modelling approach especially when India had provided authentic data published through Civil Registration System by Registrar General of India to WHO," the government reply had said. The CRS report also showed that over 2.54 crore births were registered in 2022. "The number of registered births has increased from 242.0 lakh in 2021 to 254.4 lakh in 2022, an increase of about 5.1 per cent," the report said. There has been an increase in 2022 in registered births in almost all states and UTs, except Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep as compared to 2021. Nine major states namely, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Assam have contributed significantly to the increase in registered births in 2022 over 2021, the report said. "On the other hand, decrease in registered births in six figures has been observed in two major states namely, West Bengal and Bihar during 2021-2022," it said.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Dr explains: Why booster shots are crucial even with mild Covid-19 symptoms prevailing
India is experiencing a mild surge in COVID-19 cases driven by new Omicron subvariants, with mostly mild symptoms and low hospitalizations. Experts stress the importance of boosters, surveillance and protecting vulnerable groups. Firstpost brings out a doctor's view on symptoms, vaccine effectiveness, and the country's preparedness in tackling the evolving situation. read more According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India's active Covid-19 cases have reached 5,364 as of Friday, with Kerala remaining the most affected state, reporting over 1,600 active cases. Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi follow, with Delhi recording 592 active cases while conducting an average of 1,200 RT-PCR tests daily. The recent surge is primarily driven by newer Omicron subvariants. Firstpost talked to Dr. Diksha Goyal, Consultant – Internal Medicine, Marengo Asia Hospital, Gurugram to shed light on the current Covid-19 scenario, the impact of emerging variants and what people need to know. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reports indicate new variants like LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1 are driving the surge. Which of these are currently most prevalent in India? The JN.1 subvariant of Omicron is currently the most widespread in India. Other variants like LF.7, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 are present but less common. All appear to cause mild, self-limiting infections, with no significant rise in severe cases or hospitalisation. Are there any emerging symptoms that differ from previous Covid-19 waves? Yes, while traditional symptoms like fever and cough persist, new symptoms such as hoarseness, sore throat, fatigue, and mild gastrointestinal issues (like nausea or diarrhoea) are increasingly reported. These variants may feel milder but remain highly transmissible. How do current case and hospitalisation numbers compare to earlier waves? The current surge is far less severe than previous waves. Most infections are mild, and the healthcare system is not under strain. Authorities are maintaining readiness, but infrastructure and critical care services are coping well. How deadly are these new variants compared to earlier ones like Delta or previous Omicron strains? Clinically, the newer variants are more contagious but less lethal than the Delta variant. Symptoms are often milder than or similar to previous Omicron subvariants, particularly in vaccinated individuals. However, those at higher risk should remain cautious. The WHO has classified NB.1.8.1 as a 'Variant Under Monitoring.' What does this mean? This label signals genetic changes that could affect how the virus behaves, including its ability to spread or evade immunity. While not currently a major threat, it warrants close observation in case of any future risk. Are specific groups more vulnerable to severe illness with these new variants? Yes. Older adults, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and children remain more susceptible to complications. Their immune systems may be weaker or still developing, so vaccination and preventive measures are essential. With waning immunity, what's your advice on booster doses? Booster shots are crucial, especially for high-risk people. They help sustain protection, reduce the severity of illness, and lower the chance of hospitalisation. Staying up to date with boosters remains a key preventive strategy. How effective are current vaccines against these variants? Do we need new formulations? Existing vaccines still offer strong protection against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. While they may be less effective at preventing infection, they remain beneficial. Updated formulations targeting newer variants could enhance this protection further. What about people with 'hybrid immunity' from both vaccination and infection? Hybrid immunity offers stronger, more durable protection than either vaccination or infection alone. It significantly reduces the risk of severe illness. However, this immunity may wane over time, so periodic boosters are still recommended. How important is genomic surveillance? Is India prepared? Ongoing surveillance and sequencing are vital for tracking new variants and guiding public health responses. India has ramped up its genomic capabilities, but sustained funding, coordination, and vigilance are needed to remain prepared for future waves. Could Covid-19 become seasonal like the flu? That's a strong possibility. Covid-19 may eventually become endemic with periodic surges, much like influenza. The pattern will depend on factors such as mutations, immunity levels, and public health responses. What key lessons from past waves should guide future responses? The most important lessons are early detection, rapid response, and transparency. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, ensuring vaccine access, and maintaining public health measures during surges are essential for staying ahead of the virus.
