Latest news with #Vasanthi
The Hindu
4 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.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Lokayukta conducts surprise raids, senior IAS officer in Bengaluru at center of probe: Report
A prominent female IAS officer, Vasanthi Amar B V, has found herself under the spotlight following an extensive Lokayukta investigation into unexplained assets among government officials. Vasanthi, who currently holds the position of Special Deputy Commissioner at Karnataka's Railway Infrastructure Development Company (K-RIDE), played a leading role in the land acquisition process for the transformative Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, according to news agency PTI. A Lokayukta investigation has spotlighted IAS officer Vasanthi Amar B V, uncovering assets worth ₹ 9.03 crore linked to her.(PTI) ALSO READ | Explosives found in Bengaluru bus stand ahead of CM event? Here's what happened: Report On Wednesday, authorities executed a sweeping operation, conducting searches at 41 properties associated with eight officials across various Karnataka districts, including Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, Koppal, and Kodagu. The collective value of illicit assets uncovered in these coordinated raids reached an estimated ₹37.42 crore, the PTI report said. ALSO READ | Here's what 400 signatures achieved in Bengaluru: The inspiring journey of Metro Feeder Bus 314A/1 Spotlight on Vasanthi Amar BV Investigators searched five different locations tied to IAS Vasanthi. These efforts exposed assets totalling about ₹9.03 crore. Notable holdings attributed to her included three residential plots and four separate houses, approximately three acres of agricultural land, assessed at ₹7.4 crore, precious jewelry worth ₹12 lakh and vehicles collectively valued at ₹90 lakh. ALSO READ | 'Its skid game for Namma Bengaluru…': Residents enact scene from this series to highlight civic apathy. Watch The revelations have had immediate operational consequences. Insiders at K-RIDE reported that the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project has ground to a halt, as contractors have paused work amid ongoing issues with land acquisition — a process directly linked to Vasanthi's responsibilities. (With inputs from PTI)
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Surprise Lokayukta raids uncover IAS officer's property worth 9 crore
1 2 Bengaluru: An IAS officer has come under the Lokayukta scanner after surprise raids on her house at RT Nagar and five other places across the city. The anti-corruption police action revealed properties worth Rs 9 crore, which are alleged to be disproportionate to the known sources of income of Vasanthi Amar, special deputy commissioner of K-Ride (Rail Infrastructure Development Company Karnataka), the nodal agency for implementing the Bengaluru suburban railway project. "We have seized various land documents from her and her husband's possession; these documents include various gift deeds. We have to ascertain who gave them and the relationship they share with her," a Lokayukta source said. On July 15, the govt filed an FIR at Halasur Gate police station against Vasanthi for allegedly issuing an illegal order related to a 10.2-acre land parcel in Dasanapura hobli, Bengaluru, in 2024. A few days prior to the FIR, she had got an injunction from a court refraining media from printing or circulating unconfirmed news about her. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru According to a press release from Lokayukta, its sleuths found her to be in possession of three sites, four houses, and three acres of agricultural land, all valued at around Rs 7.4 crore, among others. "Also, we found Rs 66,000 in cash and Rs 12 lakh worth of ornaments," the press note stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo This apart, Lokayukta raided seven other govt officials, including a former personal staff of a minister. The officers raided are: Bagli Maruti, assistant director and a minister's former staff in Bengaluru (he owns assets to the tune of Rs 6.34 crore); BBMP executive engineer HV Yarappa Reddy (CV Ramanganagar); Manjunathaswamy M, joint director (Madikeri), skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihood department; B Venkataramana, office assistant (administration), Mysuru City Corporation; Rajesh M, KIADB assistant executive engineer (Tumakuru division); Sunil Kumar, executive engineer, health and family welfare office in Kalaburagi; and Sheku Chavan, assistant director, district industries centre, Koppal.
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Now Showing: Movies for all with audio descriptions
The waves crash against the shore as a small boat scrapes onto the sand. Dharmadas helps his wife, Vasanthi, and their two sons, Nithushan and Mulli, onto the unfamiliar beach. The air smells of salt and damp earth. Behind them lies Valvettithurai as a memory now. Ahead, Rameswaram and a sense of hope. This opening scene in Tourist Family, a Tamil film, was screened with audio description at AbilityFEST2025 in Chennai. It is rich with mood and movement, which most of us can easily understand — with wholesome visuals, emotions, and sounds. But what happens when someone can't see the screen? Or hear the nuance in a voice? After watching a movie, many cinema buffs share thoughts about it the moment they walk out of the theatre. They post Instagram stories, write reviews on Letterboxd, or talk about it with friends. But for many Persons with Disabilities (PwD), even this basic connection to a story — the joy of reacting to a scene or simply followingwhat's going on — depends on something far more fundamental: access.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
This year on, students in Tamil Nadu's Adi Dravidar hostels to receive TAHDCO's Polivu personal care kits
Starting this year, nearly 50,000 school and college students residing in Adi Dravidar welfare hostels across Tamil Nadu will receive personal care kits under the brand name Polivu, launched by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO). According to official sources, a total of 1,331 Adi Dravidar hostels for school and college students are functioning in the State. Nearly 35,000 school students and 15,000 college students staying in these hostels are set to receive 'Polivu' personal care kits, this year. Last academic year, the TAHDCO had distributed such kits on a pilot-basis to students residing in college hostels. Earlier, Tamil Nadu government provided financial assistance of ₹100 per month for school students and ₹150 for college students to purchase personal care products. In a move aimed at ensuring the quality of these products and creating livelihood opportunities for women from Scheduled Caste communities, TAHDCO has decided to manufacture and distribute these personal care products, replacing the financial assistance initiative, through a newly-formed society under the Polivu brand, said official sources. Vasanthi Kumaresan, State Project Manager (Schemes), TAHDCO, said the products are being made by 60 women belonging to Scheduled Caste communities from five self-help groups at a manufacturing unit located in Ambattur, Chennai, established with financial support from the National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC). What's in the kit? Each Polivu kit contains four 75 gm bath soaps, 200 ml hair wash shampoo, 200 ml coconut oil, 500 gm detergent powder, 150 gm detergent soap and one toothbrush and toothpaste. While coconut oil is being sourced and packed under the 'Polivu' brand, the toothbrush and toothpaste are currently outsourced. TAHDCO has proposed to include bamboo toothbrushes sourced from a startup in future kits as a sustainable alternative, Ms. Vasanthi said. The kits will be distributed thrice a year to ensure students in Adi Dravidar hostels have consistent access to essential personal care products, promoting better hygiene and well-being. The initiative also empowers women from Scheduled Caste communities who could earn at least ₹ 15,000 a month, officials said.
