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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Haj Committee reopens free UPSC coaching centre in Mumbai after one year closure
MUMBAI: After a closure for one year, the Haj Committee of India reopened its free residential coaching centre for UPSC aspirants at the Haj House here. The residential coaching centre was closed in December 2023. Recently, the Haj Panel issued a notice inviting applications for admission to the free residential coaching centre for Civil Services exams, both preliminary and main (2026), for 100 seats. For the first time, the coaching programme, being funded entirely by the money of Hajis kept as a corpus with the Haj Committee, is allocating 20% of seats to candidates of other minorities, SCs, STs, and OBCs. The notice issued by Haj Committee CEO Shanvas C recently stated that candidates will be selected after a written examination and personal interview. June 21 is the last day for submission of applications, while the entrance exam is scheduled for July 13, with essay writing and personal interviews on July 24 and 25. The admission process will be completed on July 31, while classes will commence on August 11. Started in 2009, the coaching centre's closure had drawn flak from community leaders. Subsequently, many, including Congress MLA Amin Patel and Congress functionary Mudassar Patel approached Congress Rajya Sabha Member Imran Pratapgadhi, who raised the issue in Parliament. Mudassar Patel,said that he personally met both Pratapgadhi and former CEO of Haj Committee and requested them to restart the centre. "On my request, Imran Pratapgadhi raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. The matter reached Mr Rijiju and he approved reopening of the coaching centre which is going to help underprivileged candidates," said Mudassar Patel. Amin Patel too welcomed the move. "We are grateful to Imran Pratapgadhi too for raising the issue, which convinced minority affairs minister Kiran Rijiju to allow the Haj Committee to restart the coaching centre," said Patel. Former CEO of Haj Committee Md Owais, who was instrumental in starting the coaching centre in 2009, said: "Many candidates from underprivileged backgrounds who cannot afford expensive coaching at private institutes benefited. This is great news that the Haj Committee has restarted this centre, which will benefit the poor candidates."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
At CM meet, push for Deonar abattoir upgrade
Mumbai: Five days ahead of Bakr Eid, CM Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting on Monday to review preparations. The need for modernisation of the BMC-run Deonar abattoir, including building permanent sheds, was discussed. "We reiterated our demand to modernise the abattoir. Given the services the abattoir renders and the huge amount govt earns from it, it is desirable that the abattoir is modernised and its infrastructure improved. Everyone agreed that the abattoir should be kept clean and hygienic," said Congress MLA Amin Patel, who was among the attendees. The rush at the abattoir and animal markets across the state is expected to increase in the run-up to Bakr Eid on June 7. Officials were told to be alert and stop anti-social elements from creating trouble. BMC and police officials spoke of the steps being taken to maintain law and order during the festival. "The law and order situation in Maharashtra is always well maintained during festivals. Similarly, for the upcoming Eid, the govt has made proper arrangements. I have instructed all relevant agencies to work in coordination to maintain law and order during this period," Fadnavis said after the meeting. Earlier, Patel, MP and city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, MLA Aslam Shaikh and many corporators visited the Deonar abattoir and met officials and animal traders there. There are complaints that vehicles carrying goats, sheep and buffaloes are made to wait for long outside the gate before being allowed entry. tnn
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra records 117k infant deaths in 7 years; daily average nears 46
Mumbai: In a concerning statistic, Maharashtra recorded 117,136 infant deaths—an average of nearly 46 deaths per day—between 2017 and 2023. Data procured by Hindustan Times through RTI shows that Mumbai reported the highest toll at 22,364, with other high-burden districts being Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Akola. The number of deaths declined in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic but increased in subsequent years, reaching 17,436 in 2023. Government officials attribute the rise to improved surveillance, increased institutional deliveries and better reporting systems post-pandemic. In contrast, health experts point to systemic issues—delayed referrals, inadequate infrastructure, and missed antenatal care—as key drivers. Infant death is clinically defined as the death of a live-born baby before reaching one year of age. Mumbai, despite leading in absolute numbers, showed a steady decline—from 4,071 deaths in 2017 to 2,832 in 2023. The sharpest drop came in 2020, with 2,649 deaths. Experts attribute this decline to stronger neonatal infrastructure, early institutional deliveries, and improved high-risk pregnancy tracking. However, Mumbai's health system remains under strain due to a high volume of critical referrals from outside the city. 'Nearly 40% of infant deaths recorded in Mumbai are of babies referred from other districts, most of whom arrive in extremely critical condition,' said a senior BMC official. 'It's crucial to distinguish how many of these cases actually belong to the city.' BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah did not respond to queries. In contrast, neighbouring Thane has witnessed a sharp upward trend. The district recorded 6,562 infant deaths between 2017 and 2023, starting with 750 deaths in 2017 and rising consistently to reach 1,380 in 2023. According to local officials, Thane's burden has increased partly because it receives referrals from Palghar, which lacks a district hospital. Congress MLA Amin Patel raised the issue in the state assembly last year, pointing out that hospitals like Kalwa were overwhelmed by emergency deliveries. 'Despite handling one of the highest referral loads, NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) beds and specialists remain inadequate,' he said. Dr Kailash Pawar, district civil surgeon of the Thane zilla parishad, did not respond to requests for comment. Several other districts such as Nashik, Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune, Nagpur and Amravati showed concerning year-on-year spikes. However, Amravati, which had reported 1,307 deaths in 2021, has dropped out of the top five in recent years, possibly reflecting improved interventions or shifting health patterns. Despite several attempts, health services commissioner Amgothu Sri Ranga Naik and state minister Prakash Abitkar did not respond to emails or calls. While the sharp decline in infant deaths during 2020 may appear promising, experts say that it reflects underreporting. 'Many women avoided hospitals due to the Covid fear, leading to more home births and unregistered deliveries,' said Dr Avinash Supe, former dean of KEM Hospital. Birth asphyxia, prematurity, infections and low birth weight remain the leading causes of infant mortality. These clinical factors are often worsened by systemic issues such as delayed referrals, lack of transport, inadequate NICU capacity and staff shortages, particularly in rural and tribal areas. 'Be it Mumbai or Pune, major hospitals receive a high volume of referrals,' said Dr Rajkumar Jagtap, medical officer, Pune. 'Even with the best infrastructure, this constant influx contributes to high fatality rates. It's a global pattern.' Akola, which recorded one of the most alarming spikes in 2023, presents a similar case. District health officer Dr Baliram Gadhave stated that the surge partly reflected better reporting systems post-pandemic. 'Also, being a referral hub, babies arrive at our NICUs with already low survival chances,' he said. 'But despite the absolute numbers, Akola's infant mortality rate (IMR) stands at 12.2, lower than the national average.' Dr Abhay Shukla, public health expert, said that in many rural districts, the absence of adequate NICU beds, paediatric intensivists and trained neonatologists forced families to rush critically ill newborns to distant tertiary hospitals. 'We saw the tragic consequences of this last year when multiple infant deaths occurred at Thane's Kalwa Hospital and Nanded Government Medical College,' he said. Dr Shukla pointed out that despite budget allocations, funds meant for upgrading critical care infrastructure often remained underutilised, reflecting systemic neglect rather than a lack of resources.
