Latest news with #PPE
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Mayor calls for united efforts towards state's progress
Hyderabad: Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), urged everyone to unite with commitment for the development of Telangana. The Mayor, along with Deputy Mayor Mothe Srilatha Shobhan Reddy, GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan, unfurled the National Flag at the GHMC headquarters,on State Formation Day on Monday. On this occasion, the Mayor conveyed her warm greetings to the citizens of Greater Hyderabad, Telangana activists, corporators, and other public representatives. 'Numerous individuals sacrificed their lives during the Telangana struggle, and on this occasion, we honour and remember them,' she said. Vijayalakshmi urged everyone to unite with commitment towards the progress of the state and GHMC, ensuring that Telangana continues its journey of development, and that each person plays a role in the city's advancement. On this occasion, Mayor Vijayalakshmi along with Shoban Reddy and Karnan distributed PPE kits to sanitation, veterinary, and entomology workers. Later, the Mayor briefly explained the initiatives that have been launched, and are currently in progress within GHMC, including H-Citi, SRDP, SNDP, desiltingefforts, beautification projects, water logging, community development, skill enhancement, PM Svanidhi, food safety measures, urban biodiversity initiatives, and various other programmes. Additional Commissioners, Sneha Shabarish, Raghu Prasad, Venugopal, Subhadra Devi, Nalini Padmavati, Geetha Radhika, Yadagiri Rao, Ashok Samrat, CCP Srinivas, CE Sahadev Ratnakar, Additional CCPs Venkanna, Pradeep, EVDM Additional SP Srinivas, Chief Medical Officer Dr Padmavati, and other officers were present. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA) Commissioner AV Ranganath unfurled the National flag at Buddha Bhavan on Monday. The Commissioner emphasised the importance of unity in achieving the aspirations and goals of the people of Telangana. After many dreams, we have finally attained a separate state, he said, and urged everyone to collaborate in turning those dreams into reality. CommissionerRanganath mentioned that the state government has established HYDRA and has committed to safeguard tanks, canals, and both government and public properties. Furthermore, it has mandated that efforts be made to prevent loss of life and property during natural disasters and to provide support to the community.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Andhra minister urges caution amid rising Covid-19 cases
Nuzvid: Andhra Pradesh Information and Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathi on Sunday urged people to remain vigilant as Covid-19 cases are rising across the country once again. Parthasarathi advised people to avoid large gatherings and ensure social distancing norms are strictly followed at public places like railway stations, bus stands, and airports statewide. "Wearing masks must be made mandatory again in all crowded areas to prevent the spread (of Covid-19)," said Parthasarathi in an official press release, urging people not to become complacent about public safety. The minister said that senior citizens and pregnant women should avoid stepping out unnecessarily, and international passengers must undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing upon arrival in the state. Parthasarathi directed medical officers to keep PPE kits, masks, and related supplies readily available and to remain fully alert in both rural and urban healthcare facilities. He said the government machinery is prepared to handle any emergency, with special focus on government hospitals to ensure availability of necessary medical infrastructure. Officials were instructed to carry out extensive awareness campaigns at the village and mandal levels, ensuring that citizens adopt necessary preventive measures and understand the importance of health protocols, said the press release. PTI
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
75-year-old diabetes patient dies with Covid
KOLHAPUR: A 75-year-old woman from Pachgaon village in 's Kolhapur district succumbed to Covid-19 on Sunday at the CPR Hospital after four days of treatment. Hospital authorities confirmed that the patient had diabetes and died of complications arising from Covid. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reports surfaced about the Panchaganga crematorium workers refusing to handle the woman's body. However, Kolhapur municipal corporation's chief health inspector Dr Vijay Patil refuted the claims. "The crematorium staff, wearing PPE kits, performed the last rites of the woman following all safety protocol. There were two waves of Covid earlier. Even in those critical situations, the crematorium staff performed their duties bravely. People are requested not to spread rumours," Dr Patil said. Covid cases are rising again across country, with Kerala and Maharashtra reporting the highest numbers. Despite health authorities stating that the virus is less severe now, they continue to advise public caution. Currently, health department website reports 3,758 active Covid cases nationwide.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Street to stability: Rajasthan's Sapna Prajapati becomes shining example of PM SVANidhi scheme
The completion of five years of PM Street Vendor's Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) has seen remarkable success as many beneficiaries of the scheme shared story of their transformation and also how this helped bring stability to their lives despite myriad challenges thrown at them, during the Covid-19 outbreak. Rajasthan's Sapna Prajapati, a PM SVANidhi beneficiary, is one of the shining examples. Having started a small mask-making unit during pandemic, today she has grown it into a flourishing business, giving employment to many women of her village. Her transformation is a reflection of her firm resolve and also adds to the Atmanirbhar mission. Modi Story, a popular social media handle on X, shared her story to mark the fifth anniversary of PM SVANidhi launch in 2020. It has shared her video, where she could be elucidating about the monetary assistance under the scheme and how this proved instrumental in saving lakhs of small businessmen from getting ruined. Recalling her journey, Sapna says that she always dreamt of starting some business but the pandemic smashed all her plans. 'It was during pandemic that I got to know about PM SVANidhi scheme and applied for it. I bought a sewing machine from the sanctioned loan. I was inspired by PM Modi's call for Vocal for Local. We made some mask samples, which got approved. We got Rs 16 lakh order for making PPE kits and hospital bedsheets. The work was allotted to women groups of about 40 people. She also recounted her conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that his encouraging words motivated them to contribute to society and also make extra endeavour for any social cause. In a video interaction with PM SVANidhi beneficiaries, two years ago, PM Modi also praised her for the initiative. She happily recounts those moments and PM Modi's words – 'Sapna ji, you are looking like a leader'. Notably, the micro-credit scheme was launched by Centre, aimed at empowering the street vendors. The scheme launched during the Covid-19 pandemic on June 1, 2020, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs provides collateral free loans up to Rs 50,000 for eligible street vendors in incremental tranches. It provides loans in three tranches -- 1st tranche of Rs 10,000, 2nd tranche of Rs 20,000 subject to repayment of the 1st of tranche, and 3rd tranche of Rs 50,000 upon repayment of the second loan.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Covid PPE left gathering dust by Tory failings cost taxpayer £762million
Boris Johnson's Government panic ordered mountains of protective kit as the pandemic took hold, which was piled up in shipping containers as storage facilities were overwhelmed Tory failure to check the viability of PPE for up to two years has cost the taxpayer £762million, the Mirror can reveal. Boris Johnson's Government panic ordered mountains of protective kit as the pandemic took hold, which was piled up in shipping containers as storage facilities were overwhelmed. But long delays on checking the surplus surgical gowns, masks and visors meant that warranties had expired by the time the faulty PPE was found. This means that taxpayers' cash cannot be recovered through the courts and must be written off. The failure has been uncovered as part of a year-long probe by Covid counter-fraud commissioner Tom Hayhoe. Chancellor Rachel Reeves tasked him in December with trying to claw back public money lost to fraud and waste during the pandemic. READ MORE: Rachel Reeves to splash billions of pounds in North and Midlands under major rule change His first challenge was to review £8.7billion of Covid PPE that then had to be written off the government's books. Department of Health accounts revealed in 2022 that £673 million worth of equipment was completely unusable, and £750 million was wasted items that were not used before their expiry date. MPs were told that the Government planned to burn mountains of unusable gear. Nearly £2.6 billion was spent on 'items not suitable for use in the NHS" but could be sold or given to charities. The remaining stock plummeted in value because demand for PPE had dropped. A Treasury source said: "The Chancellor has been clear that she wants this money - that belongs to the British people, back in our public services. "Tom Hayhoe is gripping the carnival of waste that we saw under the Tories and has already uncovered millions of taxpayer pounds wasted on PPE that was left to gather dust. "Unlike the Tories, Labour won't let fraudsters who sought to profit off the back of a national emergency line their pockets." The commissioner's final report will be published later in December, which will cover waste and fraud linked to PPE, the furlough scheme, bounce-back loans, business support grants and Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out. His initial work on PPE waste was contained in an interim report sent to the Chancellor. The National Crime Agency (NCA) is separately probing possible criminal offences committed in the PPE procurement system. Mr Hayhoe is also believed to be looking at whether cash can be recouped from £674million in contracts that the Tories had written off. The award of lucrative contracts during the pandemic attracted controversy. PPE Medpro, a firm linked to peer Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barowman, was awarded government contracts worth more than £200million through a so-called VIP lane that allowed MPs, officials and ministers to make referrals. The Government and PPE Medpro are locked in a legal battle over a contract to supply gowns, with a High Court trial due to begin in June. Mr Barrowman previously accused the Government of trying to "scapegoat" the couple for its own failings. The Tory Government has always maintained that it was operating in a crisis, with global PPE shortages driving up prices for kit that was essential for frontline workers. Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Covid Inquiry in March: "I have been subject to enormous amounts of conspiracy theories about what went on here, when in fact what happened was so many people working as hard as they could to save lives, and they bought more PPE as a result. And therefore people are alive who would otherwise be dead."
