CS asks officials to protect tribal rights during Nagada visit
1
2
Kendrapada: Chief secretary
Manoj Ahuja
on Monday visited the
Nagada
hillock in Jajpur district's mineral-rich Sukinda block to assess various development initiatives in the area that once made headlines for malnutrition deaths.In 2016, Nagada, home to the primitive
Juang tribe
, drew national attention when 22 children died of malnutrition within three months.
Since then, the state govt has implemented various welfare measures to transform it into a model tribal village.During his visit, Ahuja interacted with local tribal residents and reviewed progress in healthcare, nutrition, infrastructure, and electrification projects. He directed officials to organise regular health awareness camps and encouraged tribal women to pursue livestock farming through the Subhadra Yojana scheme.
"The govt has provided roads, water, solar lighting, and other essential facilities," Ahuja said. He announced plans to repair roads and install streetlights from Kaliapani to Nagada within a month, emphasising the govt's commitment to
tribal development
.However, local tribals raised concerns about the discontinued bus service to Nagada, which has affected their access to healthcare and other essential services since 2018. Responding to these concerns, Ahuja instructed the collector to allocate District Mineral Fund (DMF) resources to help tribal youths purchase auto-rickshaws and restore the bus service.Ahuja also directed officials to protect tribal interests under the Forest Right Act and ensure proper implementation of welfare schemes.
He ordered the construction of water preservation ponds to ensure availability of water throughout the year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Indian Express
New Covid-19 subvariant detected in India: Here's what you should know
As various states report a surge in cases of Covid-19, at least one sample of a new subvariant, NB.1.8.1, has been detected in India. This was collected and sequenced in April. The sample has been submitted to India's Covid-19 genome sequencing consortium INSACOG from Tamil Nadu. Most of the Sar-CoV-2 samples sequenced in India over the last couple of weeks were BA.2 and JN.1 variants. Recent media reports have highlighted an increase in Covid-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong in the last few weeks. As per the preliminary information available, the cases are mostly mild, not associated with unusual severity or mortality. The World Health Organisation's Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution has designated the Sars-CoV-2 variant NB.1.8.1 as 'Variant Under Monitoring' — a variant with significant changes in virus characteristics but whose epidemiological impact remains unclear. The variant is derived from a recombinant ancestor XDV.1.5.1, with the earliest samples reported from January 22, 2025. This variant carries six mutations in the spike protein as compared to the currently circulating LP 8.1 and eight mutations as compared to JN.1. Some of these mutations are known to be linked to increased affinity to the human receptors which could increase its transmission, and a reduction in neutralisation, which could result in the virus evading existing immunity more effectively. As of May 18, there were 518 NB.1.8.1 sequences submitted to the global Covid-19 genome sequence database from 22 countries, representing 10.7 per cent of the globally available sequences. 'This is also a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and does not appear to be lethal. So far, there is no sign that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe illness than previous strains. But it binds to human cells faster. Early research from China suggests the variant binds more effectively to human cells, which could make it more contagious than its predecessors. Hence it is more easily transmissible,' says Dr Jatin Ahuja, infectious disease specialist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. Although we do not have a specific vaccine for this sub-variant, he says, the Omicron wave not too long ago can give us some protection. 'Past infection can still trigger memory T cells which can sense the similarity of the virus and can limit disease severity,' says Dr Ahuja. Symptoms too are similar like sore throat, cough and fever, all akin to symptoms of flu-like illnesses. Just rest, hydrate yourself, self-isolate and take antivirals. Those with co-morbidities need to mask up and be more hygiene-conscious. How prepared is India? The Director General of Health Services (DGHS) has found the current Covid-19 situation in India to be under control. Almost all of the cases so far have been mild, with no hospitalization required. A robust system for surveillance of respiratory viral illnesses, including Covid-19, also exists in the country through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR. The Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
NDTV
22-05-2025
- NDTV
"Can't Be Mute Spectators": Court Appoints Daughters As Guardians Of Bedridden Man
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has appointed two daughters as guardians of their 73-year-old bedridden father, who suffered a brain injury during a cardiac arrest, noting that he was unable to take care of himself or his property. A bench of Justice Abhay Ahuja, in its order of May 8, a copy of which was made available on Wednesday, said courts cannot remain a mute spectator to such situations. The high court, while appointing the two daughters as guardians of their father, noted that the man was suffering from mental illness and was a "person in a state of lunacy who is incapable of taking care of himself or managing his property". "The higher courts of our country exercise the 'parens patriae' jurisdiction (legal protector of citizens unable to protect themselves) as they cannot be mute spectators to a real life situation of the nature before this Court," Justice Ahuja said. As per the plea, the senior citizen suffered a brain injury in 2024, resulting in deprivation of oxygen and blood supply, during a cardiac arrest. As a consequence, he has been in a semi-conscious and incapacitated state and is bedridden till date. The petition sought HC to appoint the two daughters as guardians of their father, as he is incapable of communication and is not even able to take care of his basic personal needs. The petition was initially filed under the Guardian and Wards Act, by which a guardian can be appointed for the welfare of a minor alone. The plea was later amended and sought for the daughters to be appointed as guardians of the senior citizen under Clause XVII of the Letters Patent. Under Clause XVII of the Letters Patent, the high court has the power and authority with regard to the person and estate of "infants, idiots and lunatics". A Letters Patent is a specific law under which an HC derives its subordinate piece of legislation and is a special law which prevails over the general law. The high court said under the Mental Healthcare Act, mental illness means a substantial disorder of thinking, orientation that grossly impairs judgment and the ability to meet with the ordinary demands of life. The court in its order noted that the man was unable to understand or take informed decisions, and that he requires constant care and attention. The bench noted that this was definitely not a case of mental retardation. "However, it can be said that this is a case of mental illness although the same may have arisen as a result of a cardiac arrest," HC said. "Lunacy refers to unsoundness of mind sufficient to incapacitate a person from civil transactions. It can also refer to a mental disorder as described in the definition of mental illness," Justice Ahuja said. Such mental illness where the person is incapable of taking care of himself or managing his assets, can be said to be a "state of lunacy" and hence under the Letters Patent, the high court would have authority and jurisdiction with respect to the person and the estate of such a "lunatic", HC said.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
‘Can't be mute spectators': HC appoints daughters as guardians of father bedridden after brain injury
Mumbai: Observing that courts cannot be mute spectators to situations where a parent is bedridden and semi-conscious for a long time, unable to look after his affairs, Bombay High Court appointed two daughters of a 73-year-old man with a brain injury as his guardians. The man, 72 when the petition was filed in July 2024, suffered from Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy , a brain injury resulting from deprivation of oxygen and blood supply during a cardiac arrest. As a consequence, he was in a semi-conscious and incapacitated state, bedridden, and suffering from long-term neurological disability, Justice Abhay Ahuja of the HC observed. He was incapable of communication, could not take care of his basic personal needs, and was undergoing treatment, his daughters submitted in their guardianship plea. HC's May 8 judgment was made available on May 20, and it said the father, medically, was "incapable of taking care of himself or managing his property". "The higher courts of our country exercise the 'parens patriae' jurisdiction as they cannot be mute spectators to a real-life situation of the nature before this court," observed Justice Ahuja. The parens patriae jurisdiction is one where the HC can step in to take care of the interests of "infants and lunatics" who cannot look after themselves. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative o software antivírus do seu computador Clique aqui Undo A Letters Patent is a special law for the high court, and the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, is the general law. When there is any conflict between the two laws, the special law would always prevail, said Justice Ahuja. HC noted that though the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999, under Section 14, empowers the local level committee to appoint a parent or a relative as a legal guardian of a person with a disability, the said legislation has not curtailed the powers of this court to appoint a legal guardian for a mentally ill person exercising its special powers under Clause XVII of Letters Patent. HC held the father's condition was of a "mentally incapacitated person" who is incapable of taking care of himself or managing his property, over whom and his estate, this court can exercise its special power and authority to fill up the vacuum "in the absence of any statutory or legislative bar". Observing the powers the higher judiciary has in doing justice, Justice Ahuja said, "The higher courts of our country exercise the parens patriae jurisdiction as they cannot be mute spectators to real-life situations of the nature before this court."
