Latest news with #Sarthi
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Dalit family demolishes temple they built after embracing Christianity in Chhattisgarh; Hindutva brigade protests
RAIPUR: Tension prevailed at Bhatanpali after a Dalit family that got converted into Christianity dismantled a temple built by them, leading to a protest by cadres of Bajrang Dal in the outskirts of Chhattisgarh's Raigarh town. The police arrested five, including three members of the Dalit family after the incident. A senior police officer told TNIE that the Sarthi family had built the temple in 2020 on government land, though there was no idol placed inside and only the structure existed. The family accepted the Christian faith a year ago, and the temple was dismantled by a JCB machine. "As the news spread, a group of Bajrang Dal cadres arrived and, claiming that their religious sentiments were hurt, attempted to reach out to a nearby church to vandalise it in retaliation, but the police intervened and prevented it," the officer said. The existing church was built on private land some 25 years ago.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kataria seeks solutions as PGI grapples with patient overload
Chandigarh: PGI, a premier tertiary care hospital, is grappling with a significant patient overload, with over 8,000 patients visiting its OPDs daily. This influx of patients, not only from Chandigarh but also from neighbouring states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, has prompted Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to seek immediate solutions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During his keynote address at the one-year celebration of Project Sarthi at PGI on Monday, the UT administrator addressed the issue. He acknowledged the long waiting time at PGI and emphasised the need to streamline patient flow. "Give some suggestions so that the smaller hospitals can manage the non-referral cases and ease off patient load in PGI," he urged the PGI Director. He said, "You can send some senior representative on Tuesday for suggestions and we can chart a road map for decongestion of the institute to reduce the long waiting hours here." The Governor stressed that PGI, being a tertiary care institution, should ideally handle complex and referred cases. However, a large number of patients seeking treatment could be managed effectively at secondary or even primary healthcare levels. He emphasised that by strengthening the capabilities of smaller hospitals, the burden on PGI can be reduced, allowing the institute to focus on critical cases. The Governor also lauded the efforts of Project Sarthi and its National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers. "A little support can save time, ease stress, and transform a patient's experience," he stated, highlighting the project's reach to over 400 hospitals. He expressed his vision for expanding such initiatives, stating, "I believe this project has the potential to change healthcare, not just in one place, but nationwide—starting with Punjab and Udaipur, and spreading wherever patients need it most." He also emphasised the importance of starting similar services in other hospitals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a related development, sources indicate that the UT Administrator will soon be visiting civil hospitals in the city to assess the patient services and identify areas for improvement. Governor Kataria also made a special request to the PGI Director, asking for incentives to be given to all the NSS volunteers of the Sarthi project, including a group photograph with him and other senior doctors at PGI, recognising their valuable contributions. The PGI administration gave certificates to a few NSS volunteers who worked in the Sarthi project. Hailing from the background of a teacher, the UT Administrator said, "If all the children were given the certificates or even called on the stage for a group photograph with me and other senior doctors here, it could leave a lasting impression on their minds." Soon after, the volunteers were called on stage for a group photograph with the volunteers. MSID:: 120902494 413 |
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PGI's project Sarthi struggles with volunteer training, patient assistance
Chandigarh: The PGI's ambitious project Sarthi, designed to aid patients with volunteer support, is facing challenges due to the insufficient familiarity of student volunteers with the hospital's layout. Launched on May 6 last year, the project engages National Service Scheme (NSS) students to assist patients in navigating the OPDs, locating test centres, and accessing other necessary services. PGI even requested the ministry of health and family welfare to consider emulating their model, and the ministry's governing body recently discussed the initiative. While PGI administration claims that the NSS volunteers participating in project Sarthi underwent comprehensive training and capacity building to effectively assist patients, manage queues, provide information, and ensure smooth navigation within the hospital premises, ground realities paint a different picture. "The volunteers were unaware of the X-ray department and were seen asking patients to decongest the pathways," a patient visiting the OPD said. PGI administration reported that around 42% of first-time visitors utilised Sarthi services, significantly reducing their average wait time from 4.2 hours to 2.8 hours. "However, if volunteers lack basic knowledge of the hospital layout, the reported reduction in wait times may not reflect a genuine improvement in patient experience," said a former PGI faculty member. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Addis Ababa: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo PGI proposed to its governing body, chaired by the Union minister of health, to consider Sarthi in the management of patient care. Thereafter, the body took note of the information and directed the institute to send details of the initiative's outcome to the ministry for examination. During times of strikes in PGI, the administration has taken help from the volunteers to manage the patient queue. "Many years ago, this project started in PGI, and the students were assigned work in certain areas so that they were not confused. However, this time most of the volunteers are so young that they are not taken seriously by any patient or visitor," said an employee in PGI.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Act against those harassing industrialists using RTI: Maharashtra deputy chief ministerAjit Pawar to police
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : Deputy chief minister on Saturday directed police commissioners to take strict action against people misusing the Right to Information (RTI) Act to harass industrialists, warning that such behaviour would not be tolerated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We have decided to ensure that no industrialist is troubled. Those indulging in strong-arm tactics should be booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)," Pawar said during his visit to the city's industrial estate. Referring to similar action taken in Beed, he said police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar must also act without yielding to political pressure. His instructions came after the industrialists raised the issue of being targeted by some anti-social elements, who are misusing information obtained through RTI for either forcing the industries to give some work or bending to their extortion demands. When contacted, police commissioner Pravin Pawar said the city police are already working to address these concerns, for which multiple rounds of meetings have been conducted with the representatives of the industries. Addressing industrial concerns in the Marathwada region, Pawar assured that govt was committed to resolving issues such as the need for a dedicated police station, better road connectivity, fire brigade facilities, and revision of power tariffs. "Govt's job is to solve the problems of industrialists. The chief minister and I are on the same page," he said. He noted that cleanliness in the industrial estate was lacking and recommended that CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds be utilised to address this. Pawar also clarified that the power tariff burden on industries was partly due to concessions given to farmers, but added that daytime electricity supply for agriculture has now been arranged. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Later, Pawar inspected the ongoing construction work of the 'Sarthi' institute in the city. He was accompanied by NCP MLA Satish Chavan and the party's district president Kailash Patil, among others. On a separate note, when asked about Shiv Sena politician Sanjay Shirsat's controversial remark questioning the relevance of the social justice department following fund diversion to the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme, Pawar only said: "The CM will look into it."
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Traffic tips at fingertips: UP govt launches 24x7 helpline for info on snarls, challans in Noida
Noida: Commuters stuck in traffic or planning ahead for a business trip can now turn to the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department 's 24x7 WhatsApp chatbot on 8005441222 for real-time transport advisories and key services. All it takes is a simple 'Hi' to get started. Launched to enhance public convenience and strengthen e-governance, the chatbot offers instant access to information on vehicle registration, driving licence services, challan details, application status, and more. It integrates directly with the govt's Vahan and Sarthi platforms to provide authenticated, real-time updates. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida "This WhatsApp chatbot is a step towards bridging the gap between the government and the people by leveraging technology," said transport commissioner BN Singh, adding that the initiative was rolled out under the guidance of chief minister Yogi Adityanath and transport minister Dayashanker Singh to make transport services more citizen-friendly and transparent. The chatbot also offers step-by-step support for essential services like licence renewal, ownership transfer, and road tax payment. Officials said the move is aimed at reducing footfall at RTO offices by enabling digital self-service. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo "Promoting digital access helps streamline service delivery and eliminates the need for in-person visits for routine queries," an official said. The department has urged users to save the number and initiate a chat for updates on driving-related tasks; anytime, anywhere.
