Provide PPE kits to sanitation workers before monsoon: Delhi Social Welfare Minister
Delhi Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh on Friday chaired a meeting to review the implementation of the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
The Minister directed officials to ensure that a survey of manual scavengers in the Capital be concluded before the onset of monsoon. He also ordered that all sewer and septic tank workers be provided with personal protective equipment kits and safety devices before the monsoon. Mr. Singh directed that all sanitation workers be covered under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
10 new Covid-19 cases in Gurgaon, active cases in district stand at 36
The Haryana health department said it identified 10 new Covid cases from the 315 samples tested in Gurgaon Saturday. The number of active cases in the district now stands at 36, with 30 patients having recovered so far this year from a cumulative of 66 cases. Only one of Saturday's cases has a travel history, involving a 31-year-old male resident of Sector 73. The other nine cases are: a 65-year-old female resident of Sector 48, a 33-year-old male resident of Sector 83, a 28-year-old male resident of Sector 13, a 13-year-old male resident of Sector 50, a 28-year-old male resident of Sector 28, a 25-year-old male resident of Sector 52, a 32-year-old male resident of Sector 52, a 26-year-old male resident of Sector 57, and a 23-year-old male resident of Sector 37. There have been no Covid deaths yet in Haryana in the latest spread of cases, and all patients in Gurgaon are under home isolation. The health department had earlier stated that the situation was under control and that there was no cause for concern with the rise in mild, symptomatic Covid-19 cases. 'All the pandemic-era precautionary measures and advisories, including mask-wearing, have been reissued and reiterated to hospitals. For now, we have made available 500 beds across isolation wards in government hospitals and other sites for any rise in serious cases. We will increase the number if and when the need arises. We have told hospitals to carry out tests for those showing symptoms. There is no reason to panic, the situation is well under control,' Dr Alka Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Gurgaon, told The Indian Express last month. 'It (Covid) is an endemic (disease) now. Many people with symptoms are likely to test positive,' Dr Singh had added. Following a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia, India too has seen fresh cases, with a majority of them being reported from Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. However, most of the cases are mild and not associated with severity or mortality. Around the time the second wave of Covid-19 peaked in India, the Haryana government launched a door-to-door screening programme in rural areas across the state on May 15, 2021. By June 3 of that year, over 1.66 crore people had been screened, which was roughly 60 per cent of the state's 2.91 crore population. In May 2021, the transmission rate of the disease had been found to be rapidly increasing in rural areas. A survey conducted by the state's health department on Covid-19 patients admitted to various hospitals revealed that 68 per cent were from urban areas, while 32 per cent of the patients were from rural areas. During the second wave, Haryana imposed a one-week lockdown on May 3 2021), which was extended multiple times. However, as new cases continued to decline, the state government gradually relaxed various restrictions.
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Hans India
Majhi inaugurates medical college in Phulbani
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday inaugurated a 100-seat government medical college and a 650-bed hospital at Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal. The Chief Minister, during his one-day visit to Kandhamal, also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 10 development projects worth about Rs 750 crore. This included the inauguration of five projects worth Rs 655 crore andthe foundation stone laying of five other projects worth over Rs 94 crore. Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Kandhamal MP Sukant Kumar Panigrahi and Phulbani MLA Umcharan Mallick accompanied him. Speaking on the occasion, Majhi said the inauguration of the medical college in Kandhamal district has fulfilled a long-awaited demand of the local people. 'This medical college in Kandhamal will also provide quality health service to the people of nearby districts like Nayagarh, Boudh and Kalahandi. This 100-seat medical college will help meet the doctor shortage in the State. This will also act as a powerful engine for local employment, research and economic development,' the Chief Minister said. Majhi said the people of this region had to travel to Berhampur or Cuttack to avail better health care. Now, they will get a similar healthcare facility at their place. After graduating from this 100-seat college, the doctors are expected to work in this tribal-dominated district. 'Service to humanity is service to God,' the Chief Minister said and advised the medical students to make this college a leading institution in the field of healthcare. The Chief Minister also said his government has introduced the 'Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' in Odisha, an opportunity denied to the people during the previous government. Over 3.5 crore people of the State will be able to get free healthcare in 29,000 private medical facilities in the country. This apart, the State government's 'Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana' is being implemented as a single health service scheme. More than 80 per cent of people of the State will get benefits from these health service schemes, Majhi said, adding that the State has made a budgetary provision of Rs 23,635 crore for healthcare alone, which is 8.2 per cent of the total budget. This is the highest in the history of the State, he said. After this, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 10 different development projects worth about Rs 750 crore in Phulbani for the development of the district. These include rural drinking water projects, mega piped water supply projects, school infrastructure improvement, tourism centres, health centres, road construction projects, Mission Shakti Bazaar, Multipurpose Community Centres and other government infrastructure. Referring to the inauguration and foundation stone laying of other projects, Majhi said his government has been working continuously to provide basic amenities like good education, health, tourism, infrastructure, transportation to the people of the district, having a tribal population of 54 per cent. Majhi said many industrial projects will be set up in Kandhamal district in the coming days. This will double the industrial development of the district and bring ample opportunities for employment and employment of the people of the district. The Chief Minister also said the State government is paying special attention to the development of tourism in Daringbadi, the paradise of natural beauty in Odisha. 'A project worth Rs 18 crore has been approved and tenders have been invited for the development of tourism in Daringbadi and Rs 4.5 crore has been approved for the development of Putudi waterfall,' Majhi said. Apart from this, other tourist destinations in Kandhamal will also be developed, he said.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- The Hindu
Bihar pushes up its Ayushman Bharat health insurance coverage
Bihar is now among the Indian States leading in the enrolment of cardholders under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), with 3.94 crore Ayushman cards created till date, according to data released by the State government. It has also helped beneficiaries save over ₹1,000 crore in out-of-pocket medical expenses within a single year. Bihar is the third most populous State in the country, with about 80% rural population, and a literacy rate of less than 70%. It faces health challenges, including high infant and maternal mortality rates, malnutrition, and limited access to quality healthcare. As part of its drive to ensure maximum coverage, a recent four-day drive, from May 26-30, brought 17.38 lakh more cardholders into the Central government-run cashless health insurance scheme, offering treatment for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation for the economically weaker sections of society. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the other two States that have recently indicated a high enrolment rate. The flagship health insurance scheme, launched in 2018, offers cashless healthcare treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. Initially, the State Government had adopted the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011) data for implementing the AB-PMJAY scheme, Shailesh Chandra Diwakar, Administrative Officer, Bihar Swasthya Suraksha Samiti (Ayushman Bharat), said on the recent focus to expand the coverage of the Ayushman card. In February 2024, the Bihar Government adopted the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database and provided coverage to all NFSA-registered family members. 'This saw many more ration cardholders coming into the AB-PMJAY fold. More than 2.8 crore Ayushman cards were created in 2024,' Mr. Diwakar said. Besides this, the State has launched various measures, including an enhanced cash incentive of ₹15 (from ₹5) to ASHA workers involved in verified enrolments; camps at railway stations to capture those in need when people travel back into the State for festivals; and door-to-door campaigns. 'These extensive mop-up rounds are for individuals who have been left behind,' Shashank Shekhar Sinha, CEO, Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY-Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), said. The State has also recently registered enrolment of 2.82 lakh persons under the Ayushman Vaya Vandana card (for senior citizens 70 years and above). According to the State government, the total claims paid rose from 3.03 lakh cases in FY 2023-24 to 7.52 lakh cases in FY 2024-25, and more than 2.83 crore Ayushman cards were created in 2024. A first time Ayushman card user, speaking of his enrolment, and experience with availing the treatment, said that he had had his card made only after he reached the hospital to be treated for cataract. 'Though we had heard about the Ayushman card, since we didn't need hospitalisation, we never got the card made,' Lalan Choudhary, a resident of Bihar's Nalanda district, who is now undergoing free treatment at a private healthcare facility in Gaya under the AB-PMJAY, said. 'This is a problem we are facing in the State — though people know about the card, they will enrol under the scheme often only when they seek treatment,' Mr. Diwakar added. The State is now trying to rope in eligible individuals who have not opted for the scheme. Khushi Praveen, 19, who was operated for spinal deformity 10 days ago, speaking about her use of the Ayushman card, said that she had been suffering for a nearly a year without money to secure treatment and surgery. 'Though I needed surgery, without money, there was no access to healthcare. My doctor in the private sector suggested that I get my Ayushman card and get operated. Using the card, I got surgery and am healing well now, and hope to be able to walk soon,' Ms. Praveen said. Parmilla Devi, 50, had her cataract operation performed under the scheme. 'My husband and I work as farmers and couldn't have afforded the surgery otherwise. My husband is also now planning to apply for his card also,' Ms. Devi said. Rajaram Prasad, Chief Surgeon, Gaya district, said that in Gaya district (one of the 38 districts in Bihar), which is seeing robust enrolment and use of the card, in 2024-25, a total of 18,734 people were treated in government hospitals at an expense of about ₹15 crore under the Ayushman scheme. 'Affordable, quality medical care is now no longer a distant dream for the rural population of Bihar,' Dr. Prasad said. Besides the enrolment of more individuals under the scheme, Bihar is also looking at enhancing the number of hospital service providers. Currently, over 1,100 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme in Bihar, 50% of which are private hospitals, a senior Bihar health official.
