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Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Gujarat govt announces hike in honorarium for visiting doctors at state hospitals
The Gujarat government on Tuesday announced a hike in the honorarium for visiting specialist doctors serving at the state's district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and community health centres. State minister Rushikesh Patel said that the government has decided to give an honorarium of Rs 4,200 per day to all such doctors following a minimum of three hours of compulsory service under the CM Setu Scheme. Earlier, pediatricians and general physicians were given an honorarium of Rs 3,000 per day and an amount of Rs 2,000 per day was allotted for other specialist doctors. Patel said that visiting surgical and non-surgical super specialists working in hospitals affiliated to government medical colleges, and Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS)-run medical colleges of the state will be paid Rs 8,500 per day after a mandatory service of three hours. This amount earlier was Rs 2,700 per day.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Indian Express
Clothed like a woman, how a Dalit man was burnt alive in Gujarat for the sake of an illicit relationship
In a chilling murder case from North Gujarat, a 56-year-old Dalit man was allegedly burnt alive by a young married woman and her lover in a disturbing attempt to fake her death and escape her marriage. The incident, initially mistaken for a caste-based hate crime, took a shocking turn after police investigations uncovered a sinister plot driven by an illicit affair. On Wednesday at 4 am, Patan Police apprehended 22-year-old Geeta and her lover Bharat Lubha Ahir at Palanpur railway station in Banaskantha district. The couple was found with train tickets to Jodhpur, Rajasthan, as they attempted to flee after allegedly murdering Harji Debha Solanki, a casual labourer from Vauva village. The Shocking Discovery and Disguise The case first came to light on the morning of May 27 when a half-burnt body was found near Sutaroki Talavadi in Jakhotra village, 15 km northwest of Santalpur town in Patan district. The body—dressed in an orange embroidered blouse, a blue ghaghra, and anklets—led locals to initially believe it belonged to a woman. Meanwhile, the man who discovered the body, Suresh Genga Bhima Ahir, reported that his 22-year-old wife Geeta had gone missing the previous night around 11 pm. The clothing on the body appeared to be hers, raising further suspicions. Despite the initial confusion, the police soon realized the body was that of a man. An FIR was filed at the Santalpur police station on May 28 based on a complaint by Pancha Debha Solanki, who identified the victim as his younger brother, Harji Debha Solanki. The body was confirmed at GMERS Dharpur Civil Hospital, where the post-mortem revealed the cause of death was severe burn injuries. Further investigations uncovered a dark plot. Geeta, who had fallen in love with Bharat just three to four months prior, allegedly conspired with him to fake her death using a male body dressed in her clothes. The aim: to throw off her family and escape to start a new life. According to Patan Superintendent of Police VK Nayi, Bharat scouted for a vulnerable victim across several villages before settling on Harji Solanki, who was elderly and frail. Bharat allegedly strangled Harji, tied his limp body to a motorcycle, and transported it to Jakhotra village. Witnesses told police they had seen Bharat with the body, and when questioned, he claimed Solanki was ill and needed medical help. Later that night, Geeta joined Bharat. Together, they dressed the still-alive Solanki in her clothes, doused him in petrol, and set him on fire near her marital home. Geeta's husband, who awoke due to their child crying, found the burning body dressed in his wife's clothes, triggering immediate panic and police involvement. Final Moments and Arrest Tragically, post-mortem findings confirmed that Solanki was still alive when he was set on fire, indicating he died in excruciating pain from burn injuries. Petrol pump staff later confirmed that Geeta had filled a can with petrol, which, according to the police, was used in the crime. As police dug deeper into Geeta's disappearance and uncovered her affair, they tracked the couple using mobile phone triangulation and CCTV footage. Geeta and Bharat were finally located at Palanpur railway station with train tickets in hand, ready to escape to Rajasthan. They were detained by the Local Crime Branch of Patan Police, brought to Patan city, and then were enroute to Santalpur police station where they will be formally placed under arrest.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
100 children get one-time free replacement of hearing devices, many await call in Gujarat
Months after the Gujarat government told the state legislature that it would provide one-time replacement for hearing devices for free to children under the School Health Programme, in August 2024, 100 children on Thursday availed the benefit. Several others who have registered, however, are awaiting their turn. The government had allocated Rs 35 crore to make the replacement process available to 700 children across Gujarat. Children who had received cochlear implants under the government policy, but have had the speech processor broken or malfunctioning, will be covered. A government statement said that the state has identified 1,365 children who required replacement of cochlear implant processor kits. Of them, 700 children have to get it done this year. Announcing the decision, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, 'The state government has taken a sensitive decision to replace the cochlear implant processor completely free of charge in cases where the children have been given a free cochlear implant once by the government and for some reason this processor has deteriorated, broken, malfunctioned or stopped.' On Thursday, while the first cohort of 100 children needing replacement of cochlear implants and external speech processor machines were provided the same at GMERS Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, another 220 children will be covered in the next tranche. Speaking at the event, Minister Patel said, 'Children are the future of the country. The government will not allow a child's education to be stopped and their future to be dimmed due to hearing loss or the breakdown of a machine. And that is why it has decided on a one-time replacement for free in case the external speech processor is damaged or lost.' He added, 'If the machine was originally implanted at a private hospital, a nominal amount of 10 per cent of the total cost will be charged and the machine will be replaced.' Dr Nina Bhalodia, HoD of ENT Department at Sola Civil Hospital said, 'The first cochlear implants as well as the one-time replacement are being done for free. We test children at our audiology facility and then put them up on the waitlist.' Notably, the policy of the government will require patients to visit either Ahmedabad Civil Hospital or GMERS Sola MCH, both in Ahmedabad, to apply for replacement of the processor as only these two hospitals have audiology colleges. Now Nine-year-old, Rashi Talreja who got a unilateral cochlear implant in 2016 at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital when she was just 18-month-old. Her mother Bhoomi told The Indian Express, 'Like every gadget, this speech processor also requires maintenance, but the costs are very high. The biggest problem we have had is moisture, partly due to sweating. While it's not possible to afford a new machine that costs Rs 5 lakh, we have been having this one repaired and refurbished over the years. During these repairs, Rashi gets irritated due to sudden loss of hearing, loses interest in daily activities and immediately reverts to lip reading, causing reversal of gains made during her therapies.' Bhoomi added, 'While one time it was repaired for fre, under a three-year warranty cover, last year, the processor got affected by moisture again. The technician told us to put a cover on it but Rashi develops intense rashes and irritation due to the cover. Over time, we have had the frame changed and the wiring changed twice. Then, in June 2023, after an assessment at Sola Civil Hospital, we were told that a critical part of the processor itself had developed a fault and that it would cost Rs 3.5 lakh to replace just that part. We purchased refurbished spare parts for Rs 52,000, but these costs continue to escalate. We are trying to use tapes and other household remedies to keep the processor safe but she will need a new one soon.' Rashi has registered for a replacement and is now awaiting a call. The Indian Express also spoke to Dr Rajesh Vishwakarma, Director and Head of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery at Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad, and one of the pioneers of the cochlear implants surgeries in India. He said, 'There are two parts to a cochlear implant surgery. During implant, the receiver stimulator has to be surgically placed inside the body.' Dr Vishwakarma added, 'The second part involves the speech processor unit, which is placed over the ear and comes with a warranty of 3 years. A number of accidents as well as wear and tear can occur. The wire may get damaged and must be repaired. We have seen a large number of families of patients who cannot afford the repair, which can cost anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000, or the replacement, which can cost Rs 5 lakh. They decide to just forego it.' Notably, there have been changes to this policy from time to time. Earlier, replacement of a broken speech processor was not available under subsidy. A few years ago, there was a 50% subsidy, which, in March 2024, was increased to a 90%. However, with most beneficiary families of this scheme coming from poor households, and a speech processor costing upwards of Rs 5 lakh, doctors had lobbied the government to make a one-time replacement completely free. In the last 10 years, 3,163 children in Gujarat have received cochlear implant surgeries at a cost of Rs 221 crore.
