In country's first, CM launches health insurance scheme for state's advocates
Following a fatal road accident involving an NTPC truck that killed Vikas Kumar Ram, a road blockade in Keredari, Hazaribag, was lifted after officials agreed to compensate the victim's family.
Ranchi: In a first-of-its-kind in the country, chief minister
Hemant Soren
on Saturday launched the
Mukhyamantri Adhivakta Swasthya Bima Yojna
, a medical insurance scheme for advocates and their families which will provide up to Rs 5 lakh for general ailments and up to Rs 10 lakhs in cases of serious diseases. Advocates in the state have welcomed the move.
During a function held for the occasion at the Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium in Khelgaon, Hemant announced that his govt was taking steps to set up a top-grade law university in Jharkhand.
The scheme, which is effective from May 1 this year, would cover 14,937 advocates from across the state in the first phase even as the govt has promised to expand its scope in future.
The Jharkhand State Arogya Society (JSAS), which is the nodal agency for the scheme, would implement it in collaboration with TATA AIG. The list of empanelled hospitals in Jharkhand and other parts of the country in this regard is available on the JSAS and TATA AIG websites.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here]
Esseps
Learn More
Undo
According to a state health official, the beneficiaries would not have to shell out a penny to avail of the insurance as the premium would be paid by the state govt.
The official added that the scheme would also cover the treatment of pre-existing ailments of beneficiaries during registration.
The official further said in case the beneficiaries get treatment in hospitals, which are not empanelled under the scheme, they could submit the expense receipts at JSAS and the amount would be reimbursed to their accounts.
Addressing the function, the CM said his govt is sensitive towards the issues of every section of society and the insurance scheme was a step to lessen some of the responsibilities of the advocates. He hoped that Jharkhand would also produce advocates of national fame in future.
Commenting on his detractors, the CM said, "Whenever our govt implements a project, the critics say it is meant for vote bank. I would say that I work for people and they support us naturally. We approach people based on our work and seek support. I express gratitude towards them for allowing my govt to serve the state again."
Health minister Irfan Asari said he would form a WhatsApp group which the advocates could join and inform him about difficulties in getting medical treatment under the scheme. Finance minister Radha Krishana Kishore reiterated that given the shortfall in the Centre's aid, the state was mobilizing its internal resources for various schemes.
Advocate general Rajiv Ranjan described the scheme as historic. Additional chief secretary (health) Ajay Singh reiterated that the scheme was the first of its kind in the country.
The CM also symbolically distributed the insurance cards to around a dozen advocates.
Ministers Sanjay Yadav and Sudivya Kumar Sonu, MP Mahua Majhi, Kanke MLA Suresh Baitha and office bearers and members of the Jharkhand State Bar Council and the bar associations were present at the function.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
North's science & tech cluster launches ‘Syn-Pharma' to boost pharma innovations in region
Chandigarh: The Northern Region Science & Technology Cluster, PI-RAHI, launched its flagship initiative 'Syn-Pharma' at Panjab University Monday to boost pharmaceutical and MedTech innovation in northern India. The platform aims to foster collaborative research, regulatory support, and stronger industry-academia partnerships. The event was inaugurated by Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India, who said, "Innovation must be guided by quality, not just profit. Value must be in the driver's seat. The next six years are crucial for India to show the world it can deliver affordable, high-quality medicines." Highlighting the growing role of the Chandigarh region in drug manufacturing, he called for deeper collaborations. Renu Vig, PU vice-chancellor and chairperson of PI-RAHI, underlined the role of academic institutions in meeting industrial demands. "Academia has always been keen to bridge the gap with industry. I am heartened by the participation of pharmaceutical companies in Syn-Pharma," she said. Vig stressed the need for innovative research that addresses unsolved challenges in healthcare. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fischamend: Hansaton sucht 250 Testhörer vor 1972 geboren Hansaton Jetzt anmelden Undo Two major initiatives were unveiled under Syn-Pharma. A Call for Proposals will fund up to Rs 10 lakh for joint research projects between institutions and pharma or MedTech firms. A new industry-oriented PhD programme led by NIPER Mohali was also announced to encourage industrial product development. Three startups mentored by PI-RAHI under PSCST's SHE 3.0 initiative were recognised on the occasion. DACH Biotech Pvt Ltd received Rs 3 lakh for work in cancer diagnostics, Nanokem Innovations got Rs 1.5 lakh for nano-based drug delivery, and Herbspark Nutraceuticals received Rs 2 lakh for herbal therapeutics. The initiative is supported by the office of the principal scientific adviser, CDSCO, and RUSA, with key partners including UIPS, PU, NIPER Mohali, and PSCST.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
She's a Japanese nutritionist and skips American sweets—these 5 tasty foods curb sugar cravings the smart way
A Japanese nutritionist who moved to the US was surprised by how rich and sweet American desserts are. She didn't want to give up sweets completely, so she chose healthy alternatives that were inspired by her roots. To help curb cravings for sugar, a Japanese nutritionist shares her favourite desserts. She loved traditional Japanese desserts like wagashi, or pudding made with "anko," or sweet red bean paste, while growing up in Nara, Japan. She discovered that grocery store desserts were too rich and sugary for her after moving to the United States. She began creating recipes that drew inspiration from her early years and now counsels others to practice mindfulness and make minor changes to sweets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News If You Owe Banks Over R75,000 Consumersave Click Here Undo What are healthier ways to satisfy sugar cravings? Japanese sweet potatoes, sweet adzuki bean paste, dates and dark chocolate , rainbow berry jam, and chia and flax seed pudding are her favourite desserts when she's craving something sweet, as per a report by CNBC. They give you nutrition and balance without losing flavour. ALSO READ: Stronger core, stronger you! This quick 10-minute routine beats sit-ups and boosts pelvic floor health fast Live Events 1. Rainbow Berry Jam Rainbow berry jam is a delicious and nutritious fruit jam made with organic berries, apple sauce, organic oranges, dried goji berries, flaxseed, cinnamon powder, and, in some cases, rum. The recipe calls for boiling the mixture over medium heat, then reducing to low heat and simmering for 40 minutes with the lid on. The jam can be refrigerated for a week or two. It goes well with dark chocolate, vegan matcha cake, and chia seed pudding, and it's also great spread on whole wheat bread. Pair the jam with dark chocolate, vegan matcha cake, or chia seed pudding. 2. Sweet Adzuki Bean Paste Adzuki paste, or "anko," is a popular Japanese dessert made by soaking and draining red beans overnight. The ingredients consist of beans, konbu seaweed, dried fruits, chestnuts, cinnamon, and sea salt. The paste is then cooked in a rice cooker using the brown rice setting. It can be used in a variety of desserts, including "an-pan," "ohagi," "zenzai," and "dorayaki." Adzuki beans are used medicinally and ritually in Japan due to their high fiber, protein, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B content. The dried fruit promotes digestive and gut health , while cinnamon improves metabolic and immune function. Another popular dessert is edamame paste, known as "zunda," which goes well with tofu mochi made from tofu and rice flour. 3. Chia and Flax Seed Pudding This chia and flax seed pudding recipe is a personal favorite that's high in protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. It calls for 3 tablespoons of chia seeds and 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds, 2 cups of unsweetened soy milk, 2 ripe bananas, 1/4 cup of dried fruit, 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon, matcha, or unsweetened cacao powder, and optional toppings such as frozen or fresh berries or roasted walnuts. To prepare, combine the ingredients in a mason jar, chill, and enjoy. 4. Dates and Dark Chocolate Dates are a healthy and sweet treat high in vitamins, nutrients, fiber, and magnesium. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, which are good for your heart and reduce inflammation. To make a simple date and dark chocolate combination, cut a dry Medjool date in half, stuff with dark chocolate, and top with walnuts. 5. Japanese sweet potatoes Japanese sweet potatoes, also known as "satsumaimo" and "murasaki imo," are popular in American supermarkets. Baking sweet potatoes, or "yaki imo," is a popular Japanese dish. Medium-sized sweet potatoes can be baked at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 minutes, with the cooking time varying according to size. These sweet potatoes have a concentrated flavor and do not require much else to be delicious. Sweet potato wagashi, which includes steamed or baked sweet potatoes, dried fruits, chestnuts, cinnamon, matcha, and sea salt, is also a tasty and nutritious treat. FAQs Do I have to give up sweets to eat healthily? These smart alternatives allow you to enjoy sweet flavors without the sugar crash. Are these dessert options simple to prepare at home? Yes, the majority of them require simple ingredients and little preparation, with no need for fancy tools.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Diagnostic chains plan to scale up as Covid cases surge
New Delhi: Leading diagnostic chains are looking to scale up their operations amid surging Covid-19 cases in the country. Executives said they were seeing a "noticeable" spike in the testing, particularly RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests . However, there is little consensus on taking booster shots. "To ensure prompt service, we've enhanced our testing capacity, streamlined workflows, and reinforced staffing, even extending working hours. Rapid RT-PCR machines and AI-based analytics have been integrated to reduce turnaround times and now average 4-6 hours for urgent cases," said Dr. Shelly (Mittal) Mahajan, lab director & clinical lead at Mahajan Imaging & Labs. India's Covid cases have crossed 6,000 with 358 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours. According to data by the Union health ministry, Kerala has been the most affected by Covid-19, with as many as 1,957 active cases. Gujarat saw the maximum increase of 158 cases since yesterday followed by Karnataka (57), West Bengal (54) and Delhi with 42 new cases. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Les trous de mémoire n'ont rien à voir avec l'âge. Il suffit de faire ceci Découvertes Santé | Compléments En savoir plus Undo Mahajan said they have already proactively scaled up operations to meet the growing demand. "We are witnessing a noticeable increase in Covid-19 testing, particularly RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests," she said. With learnings from past waves, Dr Navin Dang, founder and chairman of Dr Dangs Lab, said they were "well prepared" to address any eventuality. "We know what is to be done now, and if there is any need, we will scale up in no time," Dr Dang said. Live Events Executives said testing has increased by 70% already and 25-30% of those tested now confirmed positive. "Over approximately the last 2-3 months, we are witnessing a spike in Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing by 70%. The rise in testing is a positive shift as people are now choosing awareness over fear. These new variants like JN.1, NB.1.8.1, and LF.7 could announce infections with mild flu-like symptoms, but without timely testing and patient isolation, they can spread rapidly and infect more people. Timely testing is crucial as it allows prompt intervention and improves one's overall well-being," said Dr Pranav Gupta, consultant and head, molecular biology at Apollo Diagnostic, Delhi. The Covid-19 curve still refuses to flatten in the country, and the cases are commonly seen in people of all age groups. Doctors say people with Covid are showing symptoms like the previous strain, mainly Omicron. The common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, mild fever, cough, and occasional stomach upset or poor appetite. Loss of taste and smell is less common this time, but persistent cold-like symptoms will need timely attention. Doctors are vouching for measures like masks in crowded places and maintaining good hand hygiene. However, booster shots are not needed at this point, said Anurag Agrawal, Dean, Biosciences and Health Research at the Ashoka university. Dr RR Dutta, HoD, internal medicine, Paras Health, Gurugram said the virus can adversely affect vital organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and even the brain in severe cases. "Preventive measures such as avoiding unnecessary gatherings and staying up to date with Covid-19 vaccinations and booster doses remain essential to reduce transmission risk and safeguard public health." Surendran Chemmenkotil, CEO, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd said that they have too seen a threefold increase in Covid-19 testing volumes.
