Latest news with #CKD
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Chief Khalsa Diwan office-bearer booked for sexual assault on minor
Chief Khalsa Diwan's (CKD) additional honourary secretary Harinderpal Singh Sethi has been booked allegedly for sexually harassing and assaulting a minor girl who is his close relative, officials said on Monday. The accused is the son of CKD vice president Santokh Singh Sethi. Victim's mother has also been named in the FIR as complainant says one assault took place in her presence. (Picture only for representational purpose) According to the FIR accessed by HT, Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 8, 10 and 21 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were slapped at Ranjit Avenue police station on June 26. The 17-year-old victim is based in Delhi. Her mother has also been nominated in the FIR as co-accused. A senior official, who did not want to be quoted, said, 'The complainant had approached the Nizamuddin (Delhi) police station where a zero FIR was registered. After we received a copy of the zero FIR, we initiated an investigation by setting up a special investigation team (SIT) after registering an FIR.' The matter is being thoroughly investigated, he added. According to the FIR, the victim mentioned in her statement that the accused assaulted her sexually first in Amritsar in 2022 and then in Delhi in presence of her mother in 2023. Meanwhile, Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar, executive member of the CKD, termed it a stigma on the Sikh organisation. 'CKD president Inderbir Singh Nijjar should expel him from the organisation with immediate effect. Thousands of daughters are studying in CKD institutions. Women are working there in great numbers. How will they feel in such an environment?' he questioned. The CKD runs more than 50 educational institutions, orphanages, old age homes and other socio-religious centres.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, beneficial to lowest income groups, has severe lacunae in system
A bed-ridden former ward member's wife S. Vasanthi, 70, of Sakkimangalam, a Narikuravar community habitat in Madurai east taluk, lives on the diabetic medicines supplied by the Women Health Volunteers (WHVs) of Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM), a novel initiative of the Tamil Nadu government. For the widow, who lives in a shanty house made of plastic and torn bedsheets, if not for the two-months of medicines supply by MTM volunteers, her sugar level would shoot up endangering her life. The MTM scheme has saved her life and penny; however, it has failed to identify any new diabetic person in the same locality. Chinapaapa, 75, who lives alone in her hut in the same locality, says she was not tested nor has any health volunteer visited her to identify any health problems. Her other neighbours, recollecting a health camp which was arranged at the village mid-point near a ration shop about a year ago, say they could not walk up to the camp as most of them were not informed or alerted earlier. The prime aim of the MTM scheme started in 2021 was to enable home-based screening and drug delivery at the doorsteps of beneficiaries. Though the scheme through its 20,000 workforce reportedly reached 5.50 crore individuals through screening - one crore first-time beneficiaries and 3.20 crore repeat - service beneficiaries – the actual follow-ups would be lesser, as per World Health Organization (WHO) data. By focusing on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, high blood pressure, psychological problems, mouth and breast cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), the WHV, under the scheme, were mandated to visit every household falling under their jurisdiction and carry out the tests required for identification. According to the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission's survey report on the MTM scheme, the scheme has halved the out-of-pocket medical expenditure for the lowest income groups. The report added, 'Before the scheme started operating, the poorest income group in the survey had to spend over 10% of their monthly family income on treatment of diabetes and hypertension. Once the scheme rolled out, spending on the treatment has more than halved.' Though the scheme has recorded remarkable achievements like bringing the low-income population with diabetes and hypertension under the ambit of government record, keeping them in the government medication records, slowdown of the works owing to insufficient volunteers and irregular medicine supply have derailed the system in certain areas, if not all. A WHV at Keelavalavu, requesting anonymity, pointed out the practical difficulties in achieving the assigned duty like dispensing hypertension, diabetes and other essential medications in colour coded paper bags and checking BP and blood glucose at the time of drug delivery at the households. 'Many a times, due to the workload coupled with the absence of essential drugs and devices, people will be asked to visit nearby health centres like PHC, Health Sub-Centre or Community Health Centre for getting their monthly medical supply and routine check-up,' she adds. Barring a few, many fail to visit the hospital due to several reasons, she notes. A differently abled person named R. Rajasekar, residing in Malaipatti panchayat, falling under Madurai West Panchayat Union, says that a year ago, a medical camp was conducted near his village and he too took the test and learnt that he had diabetes at its initial stage. 'Tablets were given, and I was given diet instructions to keep the blood glucose level under control. I also receive the monthly tablets through a volunteer or a neighbour, who visits the nearby hospital for their routine check up,' he adds. As the volunteers would not visit his house for monthly check-up and he would be asked to visit the hospital, he has not undergone the blood glucose level test for more than a year, he says. It is the lacuna in the system that obstructs the otherwise achievable result of the scheme, says a PHC doctor near Melur. The ground-level difficulties for the WHVs, who are paid close to ₹5,000 per month, were that they would be asked to screen at least 50 people per day in their region, the doctor adds. 'In addition to screening, they should also update their data and deliver medicines according to the public needs every day. This much is expected from the volunteers with just a bare minimum payment,' the doctor states. Resonating with the doctor, the Keelavalavu WHV says, at times when the device to screen patients gets repaired or the battery drains off, they had to spend their own money to buy new batteries or to repair it. 'As there is no travel allowance, that also goes out of our pockets,' she adds. Moreover, the doctor says that the on-ground issues like non-availability of the working population in the households and unavailability of men in houses for screening or periodical checking leave them out of the cycle. An interim report of the State government intended to address the gaps specified carrying out campaign mode of screening for early detection and increased screening in the industries through collaboration with labour department to cover the working population, the doctor notes. Such far-reaching aims of the scheme, in the absence of a vigorous working plan and scheduled supply of medicines and equipment, cannot be achieved, the doctor observes. A. Veronica Mary, a health activist based in Madurai, says: 'Though the scheme gives a perception that it is a success, it could only be for a short term.' 'Our State's rural health system, which is structured around a network of PHCs, CHCs and hospitals, is already well-connected and is robust enough to cover the villages,' she adds. As the 1,700 plus PHCs and more than 8,500 HSCs in the State were based on the 2011 population census, only doubling it would enhance the overall coverage of healthcare. 'The MTM scheme linked with the PHCs will fail if the PHCs workforce is not enhanced and monitoring is not improved,' she notes. PHCs, which are already reeling under an acute shortage of doctors, nurses and health workers, were additionally burdened with documenting and data recording works. In this situation, MTM scheme may not be successful in a year or so, if the PHCs and CHCs are not strengthened with necessary staff and resources, he notes. 'The government should review its performance and release a white paper on the scheme. Only through it, the reach of the programme could be studied and improved,' Ms. Mary states. Many of the villages and rural households were still untouched by the scheme and covering it all would require self-evaluation and introspection, she adds.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘One in three person with diabetes develops chronic kidney disease'
1 2 Lucknow: One in three people with diabetes eventually develop chronic kidney disease, which may lead to renal failure and cardiovascular complications, suggests a study undertaken by doctors at SGPGI. Sharing details, head of molecular medicine and biotechnology, Prof Swasti Tiwari said: "Conducted at the ICMR Centre of Advanced Research and Excellence (CARE) in our department, the study concluded that early detection of CKD could ensure timely therapy and management. The study also identified biomarkers with the potential for the early diagnosis of kidney disease in patients with diabetes." Adding that the biomarkers are unique in that they have the potential to predict CKD before its onset, she further said: "These biomarkers are found inside nanosized vesicles (thousands of times smaller than a hair) in human urine, making their diagnosis non-invasive. The studies were initiated in 2019, in which around 1,000 diabetic patients were recruited from the communities at Lucknow and Puducherry. Patients were followed up for about five years. " She said a patent was filed for the same in March 2024. "The ICMR included this innovation in their annual report for 2023-24. It is noteworthy that the laboratory in the department of molecular medicine & biotechnology at SGPGI was the first in India to demonstrate the usefulness of urine exosomes in kidney disease," she said. The department also took the initiative for capacity building within the country for early disease diagnosis. Accordingly, two national capacity-building workshops were organised to impart technological skills generated through the CARE project. The team included Dr Dharmendra K Chaudhary, Dr Sukhanshi Khandpal, Dr Deendayal Mishra, and Dr Biswajeet Sahoo from SGPGI, in addition to project staff members from the Community Medicine Department, PMIS, Puducherry.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Akal Takht jathedar to Chief Khalsa Diwan members: Turn Amritdhari or face ouster
Amritsar: The officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, on Tuesday directed the members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) — one of the oldest existing Sikh organisations — to become Amritdhari (initiated Sikhs) by Sept 1, failing which their membership will be terminated. Speaking to the media after a meeting with CKD's executive members, whom he summoned over complaints against them, the jathedar gave all members 41 days to undergo the Sikh initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanchar) and comply with maryada (Sikh code of religious conduct). "All members of CKD must be Amritdhari by Sept 1. Any member who is not initiated or who has deviated from Sikh discipline must rectify this within the stipulated period. Practices such as dyeing or curling the beard violate Sikh principles and are not acceptable," he said He emphasised that failure to comply will result in termination of CKD membership. To support this process, the Akal Takht will send Panj Piaras (the five beloved ones) to guide and conduct the Amrit Sanchar for those willing to take initiation, he added. Reaffirming that no act contrary to Gurmat (Guru's wisdom) or the Rehat Maryada will be tolerated, the jathedar said the constitutional requirement for CKD members to be Amritdhari was non-negotiable and cannot be amended under any circumstance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dolly Parton, 79, Takes off Her Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words The Noodle Box Undo Among those who appeared before the jathedar were CKD president Inderbir Singh Nijjar, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and former minister, along with 20 executive members of CKD. Gargaj said members who were absent from Tuesday's meeting must present themselves at the Akal Takht secretariat on Aug 1 to submit their explanation. Officially established in 2019, CKD is a year older than the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
3 times makhana may be bad for you: Nutritionist cautions against the ‘guilt-free' snack
Fox nuts or makhana may seem like a miracle snack, but moderation is key. Nutritionist Nandini Agarwal highlights three scenarios where overindulgence can backfire—chronic constipation, excessive calorie intake while dieting, and complications for those with kidney ailments. Though rich in protein and antioxidants, makhana's dark side proves even healthy snacks need a balanced approach. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Constipation Conundrum The Calorie Trap in a Healthy Cloak Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kidneys and Potassium: A Caution for CKD Patients A Grain of Salt with Every Superfood In the age of kale chips and quinoa bowls, makhana —those light, airy lotus seeds—have become India's answer to guilt-free snacking . Touted for their health benefits and endorsed by fitness influencers and wellness gurus alike, these fox nuts have carved a niche in the ' superfood ' club. But, as it turns out, even the healthiest of snacks come with Nandini Agarwal recently took to Instagram to drop a reel that's stirring up the wellness world. While makhana is often hailed as a nutritional powerhouse , Agarwal's reel highlighted that it's not always the best choice for everyone. Her three-point warning isn't a dismissal of makhana's benefits—it's a gentle but timely reminder that 'healthy' isn't always you've been leaning on makhana as your go-to midday snack and have also been noticing trouble in the gut, it might be time to reassess. Agarwal points out that makhana is relatively low in fiber. That means for individuals already dealing with constipation, consuming makhana regularly can worsen the issue. It's ironic, considering how makhana is often grouped with other fiber-rich snacks—but in reality, it's the texture, not the fiber, that fools many into thinking it's good for her reel, Agarwal advises, 'Under constipation, these nuts do not have too much fiber and can cause more constipation.' So, while makhana may seem light and digestible, it doesn't do much for keeping your digestive tract moving—something worth noting before your next weight loss regimes in full swing on social media, makhana has become a darling of the diet world. Roasted, spiced, and presented as a 'binge-worthy' alternative to chips, it feels harmless. But as Agarwal notes, 'If you're trying to lose weight then 100 grams of makhana is still okay—but if you're overdoing it, it is definitely not okay.' The reason? Makhana, though low in fat, contains considerable carbohydrates. Eat too much, and those calories stack up faster than you'd other words, just because it's not deep-fried doesn't mean it's diet-proof. Mindful munching is key—even with the healthiest of the most critical warning Agarwal gives is for those with kidney issues or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Makhana is naturally high in potassium—a mineral often restricted in low-potassium renal diets. 'If you have kidney issues or CKD and you are on a low potassium diet, then you should definitely avoid eating makhanas totally,' she third reason is a vital reminder that what's good for one body might not suit another. In such cases, consulting a healthcare professional before adopting trendy dietary habits becomes makhana remains a versatile and nutrient-rich snack—high in protein, antioxidants, and minerals—it's important to remember that even superfoods have their shadows. Nandini Agarwal's Instagram reel doesn't vilify makhana, but rather humanizes it in a world where nutrition is too often reduced to black-and-white labels.
