2-Jul-2022: RPF recovers narcotics products valued over Rs.7.40 Crore during June 2022
Railway Protection Force as one of the law enforcing agency has gained prominence in recent times. RPF has been empowered to conduct search, seizure and arrest under NDPS Act since April 2019 and has been actively participating in the efforts of Government to restrict this illegal trade. In order to bring attention to the menace of NDPS, a month long pan India drive against smuggling of narcotics through rail, was launched under code name Operation “NARCOS” in the month of June-2022. Under this operation RPF has performed excellently against the carriers/transporters of Narcotics product through Indian Railways. RPF intensified its checks in trains and in identified black spots across the country in coordination with NCB and other LEA’s to target drug peddlers involved in this illegal trade. In the month of June 2022, RPF has recovered various narcotics products including designer products valued Rs.7,40,77,126/- and within its own domain arrested 165 persons who were carrying NDPS and handed them over to the concerned Law Enforcement Agencies for onward legal action.
Narcotics not only destroys the health of youth, they also damage the economy and the wellbeing of the nation. Drug addiction has far reaching implications as it affects both the body and the mental health of the person.
Indian Railways plays a leading role in transportation of passengers and goods and has the widest network in India, that is why long-distance trains are often used by offenders to smuggle the NDPS into different states disguising drug carriers as common passengers. Thus, it becomes very challenging for the security agencies to stop this flow and prevent railways from becoming a conduit of illegal transportation of NDPS.
13-Jun-2022: Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar launches Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight – 2022 aimed at zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar today launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)-2022 in the presence of Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh, Health Minister of Manipur. IDCF programme is being implemented from 13th June to 27th June, 2022 in the States/UTs. The goal of IDCF is to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State said that “as a result of the commendable efforts of Government of India led by Hon'ble Prime Minister, according to the latest report of SRS-2019, child mortality rate in the country has come down considerably since 2014. This rate has come down from 45 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 35 per 1000 live births in 2019. But even today, diseases related to diarrhoea continue to be a major cause of death in children under the age of five”, she added.
Dr. Pawar highlighted that “dehydration is the biggest cause of diarrhoea in children and other reasons include a change in the baby's diet to make up for a change in the mother's diet when breastfeeding; Use of antibiotics by the baby, or use by the mother while breastfeeding, or any type of bacterial or parasitic infection.”
Signifying the importance of prevention and mitigation methods, Dr. Pawar said that “According to the latest survey (NFHS-5) conducted by the Ministry, only 60.6% children under the age of five with diarrhoea were given ORS and only 30.5% were given zinc. This means that there is lack of awareness among mothers.” She stressed on more awareness campaigns so that the rate of child mortality due to diarrhoea can be brought down to the minimum level.
Noting the resolve and commitment of the Union Government towards this end, she stated that the Intensive Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) is being organized since 2014 with an objective to 'bringing the number of deaths due to diarrhoea in childhood to zero'. In view of the high prevalence of diarrhoea, this fortnight is organized especially during summer/monsoon so that preventive measures can be taken. She further said that “a Multi-sectoral participation approach at various governance levels for better impacts like mass awareness generation, rallies, competitions in schools, State and District level launch by leaders etc. will be beneficial in achieving our target.” Dr. Pawar said that diarrhoea can be prevented through safe drinking water, breastfeeding/appropriate nutrition, hygiene and hygiene measures like hand-washing etc. This has also been emphasized through initiatives like Swachh Bharat Mission. These small behavioural changes have significantly helped India in reducing infant mortality rate, he noted.
IDCF consists of a set of activities to be implemented in an intensified manner for prevention and control of deaths due to dehydration from diarrhoea across all States & UTs. These activities mainly include intensification of advocacy & awareness generation activities for diarrhoea management, strengthening service provision for diarrhoea case management, establishment of ORS-Zinc corners, prepositioning of ORS by ASHA in households with under-five children and awareness generation activities for hygiene and sanitation.
One of the main activities under IDCF program has been the activities by field workers including ASHA, ANM and anganwadi workers. Field workers visit the homes of families with children below five years of age and provide counselling in case of diarrhoea for distribution of zinc and ORS sachets. They also promote sanitation practices, breastfeeding practices and advise on preparation method of ORS through group meetings among mothers.
Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary (Health), Ms. Roli Singh, Additional Secretary, Shri P. Ashok Babu, Joint Secretary, Union health Ministry, Shri V. Vumlunmang Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Manipur, and senior officials from States/UTs were present in the meeting.
26-May-2022: CGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hosts ‘CGHS Panchayat’ in Chennai
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India organized ‘CGHS Panchayat’ on 25th May 2022 in the CGHS Office at Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
‘CGHS Panchayat’ is the first of its kind initiative of the Government of India to provide an open platform for all CGHS stakeholders including pensioners, beneficiaries and Healthcare organizations to put forth their concerns. Such a platform will enable the Government to understand the issues in the implementation of the scheme with a view to improving it.
These programmes will be conducted in every state henceforth, on a regular basis.
The programme witnessed more than 150 participations from local Pensioners Associations, Employees Associations like Postal Department Employees Association, BSNL Employees Association and Income Tax Employees Association. Representatives of CGHS Empanelled Hospitals, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Healthcare Organizations, Doctors and staff of CGHS Wellness Centres of Tamil Nadu also participated.
Officials from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India responded to the concerns expressed by the members of associations. They were assured that the Government is fully committed for improving the service delivery by providing cashless treatment facility to the eligible beneficiaries and also by providing healthcare to the serving Government employees. It was conveyed to the association members that the Health Ministry is in complete cognizance of certain demands pertaining to the scheme which will be considered and appropriate steps will be taken to address them.
The key concerns raised by the Healthcare organizations with regard to the outstanding payments and revision of rates in CGHS were duly noted by the Ministry officials and it was stated that necessary action was already initiated in the Ministry for addressing these concerns.
Dignitaries present in the event were Shri Alok Saxena, Additional Secretary & Director General, CGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, Dr. Nikhlesh Chandra, Director, CGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. Dr. Shanmuganathan, Additional Director, CGHS, Chennai also participated in the programme.