CPI(M) MP John Brittas releases impact study on DREAM project tackling substance abuse in Kerala
The study conducted by the Department of Social Work of Rajagiri College used a community-based participatory research approach for its assessment.
Launched in November 2021, DREAM was implemented across ten districts in the state to prevent substance abuse and other addictions among school and college students through awareness programmes, counselling and de-addiction services across the state in collaboration with government departments, including Excise Departments, NGOs, NCC, SPC, Kudumbashree and educational institutions.
MP John Birttas released the book by handing it over to the director of the Social Justice Department, Arun S Nair.
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Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
ASHAs envisaged to be community health volunteers, says health ministry
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday said that the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are envisaged to be community health volunteers and the support for them is primarily the responsibility of State and Union Territory governments. The health ministry said the primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including support for ASHA workers lies with the respective State and Union Territories. (Representational image) The ministry was responding to a question raised by John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The ministry said that central financial and technical assistance is provided based on Programme Implementation Plans submitted by the states, within the limits of available resources. The ministry also noted that ASHAs currently receive a fixed monthly incentive of ₹3,500, revised from ₹2,000 in March 2025 during the 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group. They are also eligible for additional performance-based payments and team-based incentives of up to ₹1,000 per month under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative. Non-monetary entitlements include uniforms, identity cards, cycles, mobile phones, drug kits, and access to rest rooms. ASHAs who have served for at least 10 years are eligible for a one-time recognition amount of ₹50,000, revised from ₹20,000 in March 2025, along with a formal certificate. The Ministry further stated that ASHAs are covered under centrally funded insurance schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana. Pension benefits of ₹3,000 per month after the age of 60 are available through the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan Yojana, with contributions shared equally by the government and the beneficiaries. Health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year is also provided under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. In response to a specific reference to Kerala's 'highest' monthly honorarium of ₹7,000 plus incentives and the state's demand to reclassify ASHAs as 'health workers', the Ministry did not indicate any plans to change the current policy. It stated that the incentive structure is revised periodically in line with programme requirements.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- New Indian Express
CPI(M) MP John Brittas releases impact study on DREAM project tackling substance abuse in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: John Brittas MP on Saturday released an impact study report on DREAM (Don Bosco Breads' Drug Rehabilitation Education and Mentoring) prepared by Rajagiri College of Social Sciences at an event held in Thiruvananthapuram. The study conducted by the Department of Social Work of Rajagiri College used a community-based participatory research approach for its assessment. Launched in November 2021, DREAM was implemented across ten districts in the state to prevent substance abuse and other addictions among school and college students through awareness programmes, counselling and de-addiction services across the state in collaboration with government departments, including Excise Departments, NGOs, NCC, SPC, Kudumbashree and educational institutions. MP John Birttas released the book by handing it over to the director of the Social Justice Department, Arun S Nair.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
MP cites CRS excess deaths data, demands compensation for Covid victims' kin
A member of Parliament's letter to the health ministry on compensation for kin of those who died of Covid considering the excess death data from the Civil Registration System report could open the proverbial Pandora's box. Even if 50% of the estimated 20 lakh excess deaths are attributed to Covid, the ex-additional gratia payout could amount to thousands of crores. Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written to the health minister urging him 'to issue urgent directions to conduct a comprehensive nationwide audit to ascertain how many families have received the ex-gratia compensation vis-à-vis both official and estimated death counts'. Brittas sought 'a transparent and inclusive mechanism to ensure that compensation is extended to all next of kin of those reflected in the excess mortality data' along with 'relaxed documentation norms wherever necessary and a robust grievance redressal mechanism to enable excluded families to claim their rightful compensation'. According to advocate Gaurav Bansal, who had filed a public interest petition in the Supreme Court seeking ex-gratia payment for the kin of all Covid deceased, the National Disaster Management Authority said it did not maintain a state-wise list of claims when he sought information on the number of people who have received compensation. The Covid dashboard of the union health ministry updated till May 2025 shows 5.3 lakh deaths. The petition cited Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act, which says that the family of a victim of a notified disaster is entitled to ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh. However, the government argued that with 'scarce resources' it would not be possible to pay Rs 4 lakh as that would be an additional burden which would reduce funds available for other health and welfare schemes being carried out for Covid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo During the hearing of the petition in 2021, on the insistence of the Supreme court that compensation would have to be paid, the central government fixed Rs 50,000 as compensation for every Covid death to be paid by states and sourced from the respective state disaster response fund. The official Covid tally for 2021 was 3.3 lakh. If even half of the roughly 20 lakh excess deaths in 2021 are attributed to Covid, that would amount to about Rs 5,000 crore that would have to be paid out for Covid deaths in just one year. The response filed by different states in court indicated significant undercounting of Covid deaths. For instance, Gujarat had approved 87,045 claims though its official toll at the time was 10,094. Andhra Pradesh had accepted 37,571 claims while the official death count was 14,527. In March 2022, at the government's request, the Supreme Court fixed a time limit for compensation claims for Covid deaths. The limit was 60 days from the date of the order (March 24, 2022) for deaths that occurred before March 20, 2022, and 90 days for deaths occurring after the order. However, the court also directed that in case of extreme hardship, a claimant who could not make an application within the prescribed time could approach the district level grievance redressal committee. At the time, the court was informed that states had received over 7.3 lakh claims. The court directed that all ex-gratia claims must be settled within 30 days of submission of required documents. On the issue of false claims for ex-gratia, the court asked the NDMA or health ministry to conduct a random scrutiny of 5% of the applications filed.
