Latest news with #CRS
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mortality surged, birth rates declined in Krishna dist in '21
1 2 3 Visakhapatnam: Krishna district recorded more deaths (56,317) than births (52,944) in 2021, whereas Kurnool reported twice as many births (88,914) as deaths (38,822), according to civil registration system (CRS) data released by the Union govt earlier this month. Krishna was among the 49 districts of the country where deaths outnumbered births in 2021, a year when Covid-19 peaked and wreaked havoc. Tamil Nadu (17 districts) and Karnataka (7) together accounted for nearly half of these 49 districts. In contrast, Kurnool has consistently recorded higher births than deaths over the years. The district witnessed 35,716 deaths in 2020, compared to a staggering 90,450 births. This trend was evident in previous years as well – 92,466 births versus 31,986 deaths in 2019, 91,700 births against 30,131 deaths in 2018, 84,070 births versus 27,811 deaths in 2017, 79,619 births compared to 23,325 deaths in 2016, and 83,160 births against 24,222 deaths in 2015. A closer examination of CRS data from 2015 indicates that 2021 marked the first instance in recent years where a district in Andhra Pradesh, Krishna, reported more deaths than births, potentially signalling a declining birth rate. Official data supports this trend. For instance, after peaking at 8.5 lakh birth registrations in 2014 and 2015, Andhra Pradesh's annual birth count has since declined, stabilising between 7 to 7.5 lakh in recent years. Overall, Andhra Pradesh reported 7.37 lakh births against 5.56 lakh deaths in 2021. This represents approximately one lakh more deaths than usual, partly attributed to the pandemic's second wave, driven by the Delta variant. Surprisingly, a striking gender disparity emerges from the 2021 CRS data, with male deaths significantly outnumbering female deaths in Andhra Pradesh. Of the 5.56 lakh reported deaths that year, 3.31 lakh were males, compared to 2.25 lakh females, a difference exceeding 1.06 lakh or 46% more than female deaths. This imbalance is evident in both rural and urban settings: rural areas recorded 1.99 lakh male deaths against 1.37 lakh female deaths, while urban regions reported 1.31 lakh male deaths compared to 87,244 female deaths. The gap is even more pronounced across specific age groups. Among individuals aged 35–44, male deaths stood at 33,174, more than double the female deaths at 14,286. Similarly, in the 25–34 age bracket, 16,231 male deaths were recorded, compared to 6,775 female deaths – a disparity of over 140%. In the 15–24 age group, 5,497 males lost their lives, compared to 3,388 females. Even within the 45–54 cohort, male deaths reached 50,526, significantly exceeding the 29,182 female deaths – an approximate 40% difference. Experts argue that this heightened male mortality, particularly among middle-aged groups, warrants further epidemiological investigation into potential causes—such as occupational stress, family burden, and financial pressures—that may contribute to lifestyle-related disorders, including hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome, leading to premature deaths.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
CRS accords clearance for opening of Karaikal - Peralam new BG line for train services
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, Bengaluru A.M. Chowdhary has given authorisation for opening the converted broad gauge railway line from Karaikal to Peralam for operation of train services. The authorisation was issued on Tuesday following a two-day mandatory inspection of the 23.5 km electrified section by the CRS on May 23 and 24. As part of the inspection, the CRS conducted a speed trial run. The clearance has set the stage for resumption of train services on this section, falling under the limits of Tiruchi railway division, after a gap of 40 years. The CRS has given the permission for operation of passenger trains at a maximum speed of 75 km per hour. The authorisation is subject to observance of a detailed set of conditions / stipulations spelt out by the CRS in the communication forwarded to the Southern Railway General Manager, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Southern Railway, Chennai and the Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi. The CRS has made it clear that the stipulations should be complied with before starting commercial services on this section. Essential amenities should be ensured at the stations before the start of the passenger services is one among the stipulations. Karai Kovilpathu, Thirunallar, Pattakudi and Ambagarathur are the stations which fall between Karaikal and Peralam. Barring Thirunallar, which is a crossing station, the remaining are halt stations. Peralam station has become a railway junction with the new line having been laid. Another stipulation is that the gatemen of all interlocked engineering level crossing gates on this section shall be counselled on the working of electrical lifting barrier and manual sliding boom operations, including use of emergency crank handle and emergency key of the sliding boom. Deployment of manpower for maintenance of Permanent Way / Signaling/ Electrical assets and for operation of trains on this section as per norms shall be made to ensure inspection and maintenance of assets; providing Fouling Marks and Distance Blocks at prescribed locations; imparting adequate training to staff in predictive and preventive maintenance of Electronic Interlocking and MSDAC systems installed on the section; provision of height gauges at all subways; counselling of station staff and officials concerned in special precautions to be taken for working of trains in the newly commissioned Peralam Junction and fixing of Station Limit Boards and W/L Boards at standard height are among the host of other stipulations to be complied with. The Southern Railway Construction Organisation had executed the project. Any suo motu dilution in the stipulations by the railway administration shall automatically invalidate the authorisation, the CRS communication further said. 'If passenger train services are not commenced within three months from the date of the issue of authorisation, the CAO, Construction shall inspect the section and certify the section structurally fit for passenger services,' it further said adding that immediate intimation should be given to the Commission for starting of train operations on the gauge converted line.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Poolbeg Pharma gets FDA support for POLB 001 drug
Biopharmaceutical company Poolbeg Pharma said the US Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to its POLB 001 product as an oral preventative therapy for Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). Cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS is a severe side-effect that occurs in more than 70% of patients and which may lead to multi-organ failure and death. There are currently no approved preventative therapies for CRS. Poolbeg focusses on the development of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs and its programmes target large addressable markets including, cancer immunotherapy-induced Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and metabolic conditions such as obesity. The company said the FDA grants orphan status to support the development of medicines for rare disorders affecting less than 200,000 people in the US. It provides Poolbeg with clinical development and commercialisation benefits including the potential for a seven-year period of US market exclusivity after regulatory approval of POLB 001, potential waiver exemption of Prescription Drug User Fee Act application fees and the potential for tax credits for qualifying clinical trials. Poolbeg expects the first patient to be dosed in its proposed Phase 2a in the second half of this year, with interim analysis expected in the first half of 2026 and Phase 2a topline data in the second half of 2026. Jeremy Skillington, the chief executive of Poolbeg Pharma, said that POLB 001 is potentially a breakthrough, orally delivered, preventative therapy for cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS which could significantly impact patients' lives. "We were delighted to receive Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA, which is a significant development for Poolbeg and for POLB 001, one that we believe will enhance the commercial appeal for prospective partners and help bring POLB 001 to the market faster," he said. "If approved, we believe POLB 001 has the potential to improve quality of life for patients, reduce pressure on healthcare systems, and expand access to cancer immunotherapies," the CEO added.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Aizawl becomes fourth N-E capital with rail link, trial run successful
IN A big push for deeper connectivity in the North-East, Mizoram's capital Aizawl has now been linked to the national railway network via the Bairabi–Sairang line in the state. Bairabi in Kolasib district, near the border with Assam, has so far been the only railhead in Mizoram. Sairang is a satellite town of Aizawl, around 20 km from the city. A senior official of the Ministry of Railways said the formal inauguration of the Bairabi–Sairang line is likely to take place after June 17. 'The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) will conduct the inspection of the project this week. Only after that can the inauguration happen, leading to the start of train operations. Barring a few sideworks, work on the line is almost complete,' the official said. The inspection by the CRS, the railway safety audit body, is the final stage for the train operation. A successful trial run to Sairang was conducted on May 1 by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), marking a historic step. Mizoram becomes the fourth N-E state with its capital city connected to the national railway network. The other three states are Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. Until now the train used to go only up to 1.5 km in Mizoram. The Bairabi–Sairang New Line is a 51.38-km railway project with a revised sanctioned cost of Rs 5,021.45 crore. According to data available with the Ministry of Railways, the project has achieved 94.52 per cent physical progress and 97.13 per cent financial progress. The project is divided into four sections with the Bairabi–Hortoki section (16.72 km) already commissioned in July 2024. The remaining sections — Hortoki–Kawnpui (9.71 km), Kawnpui–Mualkhang (12.11 km), and Mualkhang–Sairang (12.84 km) — are slated for operations by June. The project was also very challenging from the engineering point given the difficult terrain of Mizoram. The line has 48 tunnels with a total length of 12,853 m, alongside 55 major bridges and 87 minor bridges. It also includes five Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and six Road Under Bridges (RUBs). One of the notable structures is Bridge No. 196, standing at a height of 104 m, which is 32 m taller than the Qutub Minar. The Bairabi-Sairang project is part of a broader, accelerated push by the Ministry of Railways to connect all N-E state capitals by rail and enhance infrastructure in the region. This involves numerous new line and doubling projects across Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur and Tripura. The railways work is yet to take off in full flow in Meghalaya because of years of opposition by local pressure groups against rail connectivity. Other key new line projects underway include: In addition to new lines, railway infrastructure is being upgraded with doubling projects like the Agthori–Kamakhya line with a new rail-cum-road bridge at Saraighat. This project in Assam has a length of 7.062 km, costs Rs 1,473.77 crore, and has a TDC of December 2029. The two other major line doubling projects in Assam are New Bongaigaon-Agthori via Rangiya (142.97 km), which was commissioned in October 2024, and New Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Kamakhya doubling project, which is likely to be commissioned in March 2027. According to data tabled by the Ministry of Railways in Lok Sabha on March 19 this year, overall, as of April 1, 2024, there were 18 railway projects (13 new line and 5 doubling) with a total length of 1,368 km and an estimated cost of Rs 74,972 crore at various stages of planning and implementation in the N-E region including Assam. Of this, 313 km of track length has been commissioned. An expenditure of Rs 40,549 crore had been incurred up to March 2024. The data shows that 81 km of the 896-km new line projects and 232 km of the 472-km doubling projects have been commissioned, with expenditure of Rs 34,616 crore and Rs 5,933 crore, respectively. According to the Ministry, as a part of railway infrastructure expansion in the North-East, in last 3 years (from 2021-22 to 2024-25), 21 surveys (17 new line and 4 doubling), of total length 2,499 km falling fully/partly in the N-E region including Assam, have been sanctioned. The average budget allocation for infrastructure projects in the N-E region has also increased, with Rs 10,440 crore allocation for 2025-26. Moreover, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme includes several stations in the N-E for upgrades such as Dimapur (Nagaland), Agartala, Udaipur, Kumarghat and Dharmanagar in Tripura, Sairang (Mizoram), Imphal (Manipur), Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh), Mendipathar (Meghalaya), Rangpo (Sikkim), and 50 stations in Assam including major hubs like Guwahati and Kamakhya. The region also currently has a pair of Vande Bharat trains running between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri, with two new Amrit Bharat trains earmarked for the North-East. Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal correspondent with The Indian Express, Business Bureau. He covers India's two key ministries- Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. He frequently uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act for his stories, which have resulted in many impactful reports. ... Read More
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
AIFF announces Academy accreditation 2025-26 rules and regulations
New Delhi, [India], May 26 (ANI): The All India Football Federation has announced the AIFF Academy Accreditation Rules and Regulations for the 2025-26 season. The Academy Accreditation application window is now open, with the deadline set for June 10, 2025. Interested academies may apply through the Academy Accreditation application portal that may be accessed through the Centralised Registration System (CRS), a AIFF release said. The academies will be graded based on their fulfilment of the checklist that is available on the AIFF Academy Accreditations 2025-26 Rules and Regulations document, which may be accessed by clicking here. Based on the gradation, each academy will be given a star rating. An academy wishing to be eligible for elite academy accreditation would have to complete a minimum nine-point checklist for passing the Academy Accreditations with a one-star rating. Further excellence ratings ranging from two to five stars would be granted on the gradation system in each category. Academies that fail to meet the minimum nine-point checklist but wish to still be formally recognised through the AIFF Academy Accreditation process will have a 'Basic Accreditation' category assigned to them, which will be launched after the completion of the first round of Elite Academy Accreditation. As part of the latest initiative to align the academies across the country, along with the AIFF's Vision 2047 plan, it is mandatory for every academy to introduce a child safeguarding policy. While a more inclusive approach has been taken in order to inculcate more junior academies into the national level, a merit-based gradation system has been introduced to ensure functionality within the larger framework of Indian football. Moving into the next phase of development of the academy ecosystem, excellence rewards are being introduced for the top academies. Parameters have been introduced to incentivise the academies' performance in the national leagues, the number of players that eventually end up playing for the India U17 youth teams, or get selected in the elite AIFF-FIFA TDS Academy system. Ensuring the academies become the catalysts of football at a hyper-local level, academies are being rewarded for long-term grassroots leagues. The academies would now also be incentivised with points for the number of local players present in their teams, alongside long-term player development bonuses. In an attempt to be more inclusive to younger academies, the minimum level of coaching license required for coaches hired by the academies has been reduced from an A license to a C license for head coach, and from B license to D license for an assistant coach as well as making the Head of Youth development non-mandatory. Gradation points have also been introduced for registered strength and conditioning coaches, mental conditioning coaches, nutritionists, and sports scientists, keeping up with the evolving demands of modern football. Women's football and general female participation within the ecosystem have been incentivised with points awarded for involvement of girls within the grassroots leagues, the number of girls' youth teams registered as well as the number of female staff within the academies' administrative structure. (ANI)
