The waterborne diarrhoea and cholera continued to play havoc in three Orissa districts as the death toll crossed 93 on Tuesday with hundreds of patients thronging government hospitals. The districts of Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi had been affected by the post-monsoon waterborne diseases one and a half months ago but the situation assumed an alarming proportion in the past two weeks. Of the 93 deaths, 49 are in Rayagada, 34 in Koraput and six in Kalahandi district. All deaths in Rayagada district have been reported from 26 villages under Kashipur block.
More than a dozen villages in five blocks have been affected in Koraput. They are Dasmantpur, Laxmipur, Nandapur, Kundura and sadar, as per medai reports. In Kalahandi the worst hit is Thuamul Rampur. A central team of experts also arrived in the state capital and was reviewing the situation along with top health department officials.
Cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks are not new in the three districts, which have been visited by the waterborne diseases almost every monsoon as rainwater slush from hilltops contaminates water sources.
Kalahandi, Koraput and Rayagada districts come under the undivided KBK (Kalahandi, Koraput and Bolangir) region which are among the most underdeveloped parts of the country and often in news for starvation deaths and distress child sales.
In Madhya Pradesh, central Indian state Jabalpur Districts reported 19 deaths have been reported in the last twenty five days in village barella. The patients are complaining of vomiting, diarrhea, probbaly due to wate bormne infections. There have been five suspensuon and district is trying its effforts to provide safe drinking water to the people of the village.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
A touching story
Sometimes you read something and it makes you stop and think.....and then you want to share it with everyone you care about. Please read this and share it with the people you love.
There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.
One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him.
Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying "JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES PLEASE".
This is how human beings change when their status changes. Only few remember what life was before, and who has always been there in the most painful situations.
There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.
One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him.
Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying "JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES PLEASE".
This is how human beings change when their status changes. Only few remember what life was before, and who has always been there in the most painful situations.
Students of MP to get accident insurance cover
BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh government has decided to provide accident insurance cover of Rs 35,000 each to students of government-run schools.The government will contract Reliance General Insurance Company to provide the cover to the students studying in class I to XII, official sources said here. The policies, with annual premium of Re one each, will provide a cover of Rs 35,000 in case of death or loss of two body parts - eyes or limbs, the sources said.
In case a student loses one of the body parts in an accident, the insurance company will give Rs 17,500 to the victim, they said, adding Rs 250 will be paid on account of damage caused to the books in the accident and Rs 1,000 for meeting medical expenses. Students enrolled from July 31, 2007, will be included in the scheme for a period of one year and the plan will provide them cover in case of accidents anywhere in the country.
The District Education Officers have been asked to prepare drafts for the premium after reviewing the list of students in their respective areas, the sources said.
In case a student loses one of the body parts in an accident, the insurance company will give Rs 17,500 to the victim, they said, adding Rs 250 will be paid on account of damage caused to the books in the accident and Rs 1,000 for meeting medical expenses. Students enrolled from July 31, 2007, will be included in the scheme for a period of one year and the plan will provide them cover in case of accidents anywhere in the country.
The District Education Officers have been asked to prepare drafts for the premium after reviewing the list of students in their respective areas, the sources said.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Cholera death toll in India rises
The death toll is now 115 from an outbreak of cholera in Orissa.35 deaths have been reported mainly in tribal districts. The outbreak has affected Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi districts.
More than 2,000 people have been admitted to hospitals and officials say contaminated food and water are to blame for the epidemic.
More than 2,000 people have been admitted to hospitals and officials say contaminated food and water are to blame for the epidemic.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Cholera outbreak in India
Rayagara and Koraput, two districts in souththwest of the Orissa state capital, Bhubaneswar have witnessiong cholera outbreak. The out break has killed up to 70 people after heavy rains caused flooding and unsafe hygiene conditions. All the deaths have been in span of last one month said an official. Cholera is a severe gastrointestinal disease often caused by consuming water or food contaminated with faecal matter.
Thousands of people around India have suffered from waterborne illnesses since the start of the monsoon season in June this year.
In Madhya Pradesh, 13 people in village Barella of Jabalpur district had died due to acute gastro enteritis, becase of contaminated water. jabalpur'd bargi area has witness number of diarrhea cases in lst few days. Similarly 10 have died in village Karapani in Chhindwara of Madhya Pradesh due to unsafe drinking water being pumped by handpumps there.
Thousands of people around India have suffered from waterborne illnesses since the start of the monsoon season in June this year.
In Madhya Pradesh, 13 people in village Barella of Jabalpur district had died due to acute gastro enteritis, becase of contaminated water. jabalpur'd bargi area has witness number of diarrhea cases in lst few days. Similarly 10 have died in village Karapani in Chhindwara of Madhya Pradesh due to unsafe drinking water being pumped by handpumps there.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Indian - Focus shifts to quality education
Riding on the success of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, the government now wants to focus on quality of elementary and secondary education. A plan to upgrade the quality of government schools and improve the overall education in the country will be discussed at a full Planning Commission meeting headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next Tuesday.
The HRD Ministry in a survey had found that about 73 per cent of the enrolled students in India don't attend schools and more than half of upper primary school students cannot divide a three digit figure with one digit. In states like Bihar, student absenteeism is as high as 60 per cent. Moreover, teacher absenteeism is about 20 per cent.
The HRD Ministry in a survey had found that about 73 per cent of the enrolled students in India don't attend schools and more than half of upper primary school students cannot divide a three digit figure with one digit. In states like Bihar, student absenteeism is as high as 60 per cent. Moreover, teacher absenteeism is about 20 per cent.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Infectious diseases spreading faster than ever: UN
GENEVA (Reuters) - Infectious diseases are emerging more quickly and spreading faster around the globe than ever and becoming increasingly difficult to treat, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. With billions of people moving around the planet every year, the U.N. agency said in its annual World Health Report: "An outbreak or epidemic in one part of the world is only a few hours away from becoming an imminent threat somewhere else."
WHO director-general Margaret Chan said mass travel could facilitate the rapid spread of infectious diseases."No country can shield itself from invasion by a pathogen incubating in an airline passenger or an insect hiding in a cargo hold," Chan told reporters. The U.N. agency warned that there was a good possibility of another major scourge like AIDS, SARS or Ebola fever with the potential of killing millions appearing in the coming years.
"Infectious diseases are now spreading geographically much faster than at any time in history," the WHO said. It said it was vital to keep watch for new threats like the emergence in 2003 of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which spread from China to 30 countries and killed 800 people.
"It would be extremely naive and complacent to assume that there will not be another disease like AIDS, another Ebola, or another SARS, sooner or later," the report warned.Since the 1970s, the WHO said, new threats have been identified at an "unprecedented rate" of one or more every year, meaning that nearly 40 diseases exist today which were unknown just over a generation ago.
Over the last five years alone, WHO experts had verified more than 1,100 epidemics of different diseases.It was therefore vital for countries to share information on outbreaks so risks can be assessed and mitigated, Chan said.
MONITORING VITAL
The report called for renewed efforts to monitor, prevent and control epidemic-prone illnesses such as cholera, yellow fever and meningococcal diseases. International assistance may be required to help health workers in poorer countries identify and contain outbreaks of emerging viral diseases such as Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever, the WHO said.
It warned global efforts to control infectious diseases had been "seriously jeopardized" by widespread drug resistance, a consequence of poor medical treatment and misuse of antibiotics.
This is a particular problem with tuberculosis. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) strains of the contagious respiratory ailment have emerged worldwide. Although the H5N1 bird flu virus has not mutated into a form that passes easily between humans, as many scientists had feared, the next influenza pandemic was "likely to be of an avian variety" and could affect some 1.5 billion people.
Chan noted that the last influenza pandemic was in 1968 and had killed about 1 million people. "We have learned from previous pandemics that even the mildest pandemic causes too many premature deaths. We don't want to see that," she said.
She urged countries affected by human cases of bird flu, including Indonesia, to continue sharing virus samples, deemed crucial to tracking the virus and to developing a pandemic vaccine.
WHO director-general Margaret Chan said mass travel could facilitate the rapid spread of infectious diseases."No country can shield itself from invasion by a pathogen incubating in an airline passenger or an insect hiding in a cargo hold," Chan told reporters. The U.N. agency warned that there was a good possibility of another major scourge like AIDS, SARS or Ebola fever with the potential of killing millions appearing in the coming years.
"Infectious diseases are now spreading geographically much faster than at any time in history," the WHO said. It said it was vital to keep watch for new threats like the emergence in 2003 of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which spread from China to 30 countries and killed 800 people.
"It would be extremely naive and complacent to assume that there will not be another disease like AIDS, another Ebola, or another SARS, sooner or later," the report warned.Since the 1970s, the WHO said, new threats have been identified at an "unprecedented rate" of one or more every year, meaning that nearly 40 diseases exist today which were unknown just over a generation ago.
Over the last five years alone, WHO experts had verified more than 1,100 epidemics of different diseases.It was therefore vital for countries to share information on outbreaks so risks can be assessed and mitigated, Chan said.
MONITORING VITAL
The report called for renewed efforts to monitor, prevent and control epidemic-prone illnesses such as cholera, yellow fever and meningococcal diseases. International assistance may be required to help health workers in poorer countries identify and contain outbreaks of emerging viral diseases such as Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever, the WHO said.
It warned global efforts to control infectious diseases had been "seriously jeopardized" by widespread drug resistance, a consequence of poor medical treatment and misuse of antibiotics.
This is a particular problem with tuberculosis. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) strains of the contagious respiratory ailment have emerged worldwide. Although the H5N1 bird flu virus has not mutated into a form that passes easily between humans, as many scientists had feared, the next influenza pandemic was "likely to be of an avian variety" and could affect some 1.5 billion people.
Chan noted that the last influenza pandemic was in 1968 and had killed about 1 million people. "We have learned from previous pandemics that even the mildest pandemic causes too many premature deaths. We don't want to see that," she said.
She urged countries affected by human cases of bird flu, including Indonesia, to continue sharing virus samples, deemed crucial to tracking the virus and to developing a pandemic vaccine.
Japanese encephalitis has killed 185 Indians this year
IANS
Japanese encephalitis has killed 185 people in India this year, the mosquito-borne disease claiming 115 lives in Assam alone, and a UN official has sought a more focused immunization drive. According to the health ministry, till August 16, nine states reported 837 cases of the disease commonly known as brain fever. Deaths were reported from four states.
Uttar Pradesh reported 383 cases, Assam 368, Goa 44, Tamil Nadu 17, Manipur 11, Karnataka and Haryana six each. Kerala and Andhra Pradesh reported one case each.
Among the patients was a Nepalese national who was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis at the Gorakhpur Medical College of Uttar Pradesh, close to the Nepal border. Japanese encephalitis can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications like paralysis, coma and finally death. According to the World Health Organisation, the disease is fatal in up to 30 per cent cases and there is a possibility that those who survive may be disabled for life. UN officials say India can do much more to battle the disease.
Said Marzio Babille, chief of health wing at the UNICEF office here: "India produces only a tenth of the vaccine doses required for the country. India has good expertise to produce desired vaccines but they need to prioritise them." "A good national immunisation plan, adequate doses of vaccine, ability of the government to investigate thoroughly and carry out surveillance are a few things required to handle the disease," Babille told IANS.
He said though mosquito was the primary reason for Japanese encephalitis, yet horses and pigs were the reservoirs of its virus. "Many rural people in Gorakhpur are living in close proximity to pigs, and this could be one of the reasons why many cases are reported from this district of Uttar Pradesh," the official said.
He added that lack of consistent focus in the immunisation drive in Assam was a key reason for the high mortality in the state. Of the 185 deaths, the highest toll was in Assam (115) and Uttar Pradesh was next with 65. While three people died in Haryana, two succumbed to the fever in Manipur.
Babille, however, said that the number of deaths across India had gone down and efforts must now be made to reach "zero mortality level". A health ministry official said the main bottleneck in tackling the disease was a "cocktail of lack of awareness among our rural population and vaccine". He said the most affected state of Uttar Pradesh had established a regional office of the health and family welfare department at Gorakhpur with support from the central government. "The aim is to strengthen epidemiological and entomological surveillance in the eastern belt of Uttar Pradesh," he said. Authorities said they have extended the Japanese encephalitis vaccination programme from 11 districts across four states in 2006 to 29 endemic districts across nine states.
Japanese encephalitis has killed 185 people in India this year, the mosquito-borne disease claiming 115 lives in Assam alone, and a UN official has sought a more focused immunization drive. According to the health ministry, till August 16, nine states reported 837 cases of the disease commonly known as brain fever. Deaths were reported from four states.
Uttar Pradesh reported 383 cases, Assam 368, Goa 44, Tamil Nadu 17, Manipur 11, Karnataka and Haryana six each. Kerala and Andhra Pradesh reported one case each.
Among the patients was a Nepalese national who was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis at the Gorakhpur Medical College of Uttar Pradesh, close to the Nepal border. Japanese encephalitis can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications like paralysis, coma and finally death. According to the World Health Organisation, the disease is fatal in up to 30 per cent cases and there is a possibility that those who survive may be disabled for life. UN officials say India can do much more to battle the disease.
Said Marzio Babille, chief of health wing at the UNICEF office here: "India produces only a tenth of the vaccine doses required for the country. India has good expertise to produce desired vaccines but they need to prioritise them." "A good national immunisation plan, adequate doses of vaccine, ability of the government to investigate thoroughly and carry out surveillance are a few things required to handle the disease," Babille told IANS.
He said though mosquito was the primary reason for Japanese encephalitis, yet horses and pigs were the reservoirs of its virus. "Many rural people in Gorakhpur are living in close proximity to pigs, and this could be one of the reasons why many cases are reported from this district of Uttar Pradesh," the official said.
He added that lack of consistent focus in the immunisation drive in Assam was a key reason for the high mortality in the state. Of the 185 deaths, the highest toll was in Assam (115) and Uttar Pradesh was next with 65. While three people died in Haryana, two succumbed to the fever in Manipur.
Babille, however, said that the number of deaths across India had gone down and efforts must now be made to reach "zero mortality level". A health ministry official said the main bottleneck in tackling the disease was a "cocktail of lack of awareness among our rural population and vaccine". He said the most affected state of Uttar Pradesh had established a regional office of the health and family welfare department at Gorakhpur with support from the central government. "The aim is to strengthen epidemiological and entomological surveillance in the eastern belt of Uttar Pradesh," he said. Authorities said they have extended the Japanese encephalitis vaccination programme from 11 districts across four states in 2006 to 29 endemic districts across nine states.
Cholera outbreak kills 58 tribals in Orissa
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - A cholera outbreak in Orissa has killed at least 58 tribal people and left over 1,800 sick over the past two weeks, health officials said on Saturday, warning it was reaching epidemic proportions.
The outbreak in impoverished Orissa has been caused by drinking polluted water and eating contaminated meat, they added. "The situation is not under control, and although we are giving medicines to victims the outbreak is slowly reaching epidemic proportions," said P. Sitaram, a senior health official in Bhubaneswar.
About 700 people were admitted in local hospitals, and health workers were supplying drinking water and food to thousands of villagers, who were desperate for food in the south-western district of Raygada, officials and witnesses said.
Cholera often causes severe diarrhoea or vomiting that can result in dehydration and death.
Orissa is facing monsoon floods in several districts that has marooned thousands of people and killed dozens since early August. The cholera deaths were not linked to the floods, officials said.
"The tribals drink water from dirty ponds and drains and eat contaminated meat from carcasses, making them vulnerable to diseases like cholera," Sitaram said. The tribals are the poorest and most marginalised community in India, with the worst social and health indicators, and make up around 8 percent of 1.1-billion population in the country.
The outbreak in impoverished Orissa has been caused by drinking polluted water and eating contaminated meat, they added. "The situation is not under control, and although we are giving medicines to victims the outbreak is slowly reaching epidemic proportions," said P. Sitaram, a senior health official in Bhubaneswar.
About 700 people were admitted in local hospitals, and health workers were supplying drinking water and food to thousands of villagers, who were desperate for food in the south-western district of Raygada, officials and witnesses said.
Cholera often causes severe diarrhoea or vomiting that can result in dehydration and death.
Orissa is facing monsoon floods in several districts that has marooned thousands of people and killed dozens since early August. The cholera deaths were not linked to the floods, officials said.
"The tribals drink water from dirty ponds and drains and eat contaminated meat from carcasses, making them vulnerable to diseases like cholera," Sitaram said. The tribals are the poorest and most marginalised community in India, with the worst social and health indicators, and make up around 8 percent of 1.1-billion population in the country.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Slum women conquer world from the kitchen
Azera Rahman, IANS
It was not easy for the 17 women of the Shakti Khazana group to step out of their sari pallus, let alone the shadow of their husbands, and stand on their own feet.But 18 years after they took that first step, these women of a Govindpuri slum in south Delhi have not just moved out of their conservative lifestyles that makes it socially necessary for them to cover their heads but are now busy taking orders from top Indian companies and offices, whipping up things like cakes and cookies and earning a decent living.Wearing a dozen glass bangles, Manjula Singh walks around feeling quite at home at the office of Katha, the publishing house whose founder and director Geeta Dharmarajan had founded this women's cooperative back in 1990."We visit the office every day to deliver lunch for the staff. This is regular work, besides the various orders that we get from other companies or individuals," Manjula smiled.Her multicoloured sari neatly pleated, she is part of the bakery team of the Shakti Khazana group. "Of the 17 women, 10 are involved in daily cooking as well as for lunches and parties while the rest are in the baking team."I am a part of the bakery team. We bake different kinds of cakes, biscuits and cookies. All the cooking and baking take place in the central kitchen set up by Katha at our slum," Manjula told IANS.A self-supporting unit, the Shakti Khazana Women's Cooperative was set up in the sprawling Govindpuri slum area of Delhi by Katha with the objective of not only empowering women but also inculcating a habit of saving money among families, decreasing the dependence on moneylenders, enhancing their confidence and skills and helping develop micro-enterprise.
"The basic belief behind this project was that when women earn, children go to school. When we started our education programme in Govindpuri, the men folk were reluctant to send their children to school," said Shruti Bhattacharjee, the programme coordinator."They blamed their income and low resources. This made us think 'why not train the mothers?' Hence we started training the women, formed the cooperative and empowered the women of the community. Now they are absolutely on their own."Top end companies, organisations and hotels, be it the Taj group, Airtel, Child Relief and You (CRY) or IGNOU, these women have people lining up to place orders for luncheons and parties.
Not only that, the group also handles the catering of school canteens and supplies executive lunches to various multi-national companies."Eighteen years ago we couldn't have thought that we would be where we are today," smiled Shivkumari, another woman of the cooperative."We earn nearly Rs.2,000 every month. We handle the kitchen all by ourselves as well as the finances. Not only has this initiative made us self-sufficient and enabled us to send our children to school but also earned us respect in society," she said.Manjula, for instance, is a proud mother whose one daughter is a teacher and the other is a bakery trainer for women at the cooperative."Initially it was difficult convincing our husbands about our work. But despite their attitude, we used to slip out of our homes the moment they stepped out for work and come back before they returned," Urmila, clad in a sky blue sari, told IANS."This continued for some time until they realised we were actually helping them in managing the finances and they started supporting us. Since then we have never looked back," she added.
The women of the bakery team are trained by chefs of the fivc-star Taj Mahal hotel in the capital for three months before they start supplying food items like cake, pastries, puffs and cookies to them."Among all our items, the bread-pakoda was the most sought after at the Taj hotel. Just that while they bought from us at the rate of Rs.2.50 per piece, they sold them at a higher price of Rs.12. When we said we wanted to increase our price, they stopped buying bread-pakodas from us!" said Shivkumari.The women also supply pickles and squashes.But one of the greatest challenges these women face is the marketing of their products. "We haven't been able to market our products well to match up to the products in the market, but we are trying," said Urmila.And they have one request."If housewives can come forward and teach us some of their skills, it will greatly benefit us. We would be indebted to them forever," said Shivkumari.
It was not easy for the 17 women of the Shakti Khazana group to step out of their sari pallus, let alone the shadow of their husbands, and stand on their own feet.But 18 years after they took that first step, these women of a Govindpuri slum in south Delhi have not just moved out of their conservative lifestyles that makes it socially necessary for them to cover their heads but are now busy taking orders from top Indian companies and offices, whipping up things like cakes and cookies and earning a decent living.Wearing a dozen glass bangles, Manjula Singh walks around feeling quite at home at the office of Katha, the publishing house whose founder and director Geeta Dharmarajan had founded this women's cooperative back in 1990."We visit the office every day to deliver lunch for the staff. This is regular work, besides the various orders that we get from other companies or individuals," Manjula smiled.Her multicoloured sari neatly pleated, she is part of the bakery team of the Shakti Khazana group. "Of the 17 women, 10 are involved in daily cooking as well as for lunches and parties while the rest are in the baking team."I am a part of the bakery team. We bake different kinds of cakes, biscuits and cookies. All the cooking and baking take place in the central kitchen set up by Katha at our slum," Manjula told IANS.A self-supporting unit, the Shakti Khazana Women's Cooperative was set up in the sprawling Govindpuri slum area of Delhi by Katha with the objective of not only empowering women but also inculcating a habit of saving money among families, decreasing the dependence on moneylenders, enhancing their confidence and skills and helping develop micro-enterprise.
"The basic belief behind this project was that when women earn, children go to school. When we started our education programme in Govindpuri, the men folk were reluctant to send their children to school," said Shruti Bhattacharjee, the programme coordinator."They blamed their income and low resources. This made us think 'why not train the mothers?' Hence we started training the women, formed the cooperative and empowered the women of the community. Now they are absolutely on their own."Top end companies, organisations and hotels, be it the Taj group, Airtel, Child Relief and You (CRY) or IGNOU, these women have people lining up to place orders for luncheons and parties.
Not only that, the group also handles the catering of school canteens and supplies executive lunches to various multi-national companies."Eighteen years ago we couldn't have thought that we would be where we are today," smiled Shivkumari, another woman of the cooperative."We earn nearly Rs.2,000 every month. We handle the kitchen all by ourselves as well as the finances. Not only has this initiative made us self-sufficient and enabled us to send our children to school but also earned us respect in society," she said.Manjula, for instance, is a proud mother whose one daughter is a teacher and the other is a bakery trainer for women at the cooperative."Initially it was difficult convincing our husbands about our work. But despite their attitude, we used to slip out of our homes the moment they stepped out for work and come back before they returned," Urmila, clad in a sky blue sari, told IANS."This continued for some time until they realised we were actually helping them in managing the finances and they started supporting us. Since then we have never looked back," she added.
The women of the bakery team are trained by chefs of the fivc-star Taj Mahal hotel in the capital for three months before they start supplying food items like cake, pastries, puffs and cookies to them."Among all our items, the bread-pakoda was the most sought after at the Taj hotel. Just that while they bought from us at the rate of Rs.2.50 per piece, they sold them at a higher price of Rs.12. When we said we wanted to increase our price, they stopped buying bread-pakodas from us!" said Shivkumari.The women also supply pickles and squashes.But one of the greatest challenges these women face is the marketing of their products. "We haven't been able to market our products well to match up to the products in the market, but we are trying," said Urmila.And they have one request."If housewives can come forward and teach us some of their skills, it will greatly benefit us. We would be indebted to them forever," said Shivkumari.
HIV positive baby on sale - but no takers
By Sujeet Kumar, Raipur, IANS
This is the story of an HIV positive woman in Chhattisgarh who has been driven by poverty to offer her newborn daughter for sale - and the little baby whom no one wants because she too is infected with the virus.Goldy, in her 30s, has been visiting public places in Kondagaon in Bastar district, about 220 km from here, to sell off her baby girl ever since she was discharged from the government hospital there Aug 15 after delivery.The local administration, which woke up to the issue this week, has stopped her from offering the baby for sale and arrangements are being made for her treatment."She was holding a week-old baby in her arms and asking people to buy the child so that she could get money for food," R.P. Pandey, chief medical officer of Bastar district, told IANS on telephone.
"Some people who showed initial interest in adopting the baby refused to do so after a test conducted in the government hospital confirmed that both the mother and the child are HIV positive," Pandey said."We do not have much details of her family background. She is refusing to give details. But it's a very touching and emotional case; we do not know how to help her," Pandey added.Bastar's district collector Ganesh Shankar Mishra told IANS over telephone: "I have come to know about the matter... The administration will fully cooperate and will not allow her to sell the kid. I am arranging for advanced treatment of both the mother and the kid at the government hospital in Raipur. "I have talked to the chief medical officer in Raipur to admit the mother and the baby and take care of all their medical needs."Despite various measures taken by the government, AIDS continues to spread in the country.
Goldy's miserable condition is a consequence of the ignorance of people about the disease.Earlier this month, a baby in New Delhi was abandoned twice before she was rescued by an NGO due to the belief that she was HIV positive.Dumped by her mother in an auto-rickshaw soon after she was born, she moved from the hands of a poor childless couple to the house of a medical representative before reaching the NGO.
This is the story of an HIV positive woman in Chhattisgarh who has been driven by poverty to offer her newborn daughter for sale - and the little baby whom no one wants because she too is infected with the virus.Goldy, in her 30s, has been visiting public places in Kondagaon in Bastar district, about 220 km from here, to sell off her baby girl ever since she was discharged from the government hospital there Aug 15 after delivery.The local administration, which woke up to the issue this week, has stopped her from offering the baby for sale and arrangements are being made for her treatment."She was holding a week-old baby in her arms and asking people to buy the child so that she could get money for food," R.P. Pandey, chief medical officer of Bastar district, told IANS on telephone.
"Some people who showed initial interest in adopting the baby refused to do so after a test conducted in the government hospital confirmed that both the mother and the child are HIV positive," Pandey said."We do not have much details of her family background. She is refusing to give details. But it's a very touching and emotional case; we do not know how to help her," Pandey added.Bastar's district collector Ganesh Shankar Mishra told IANS over telephone: "I have come to know about the matter... The administration will fully cooperate and will not allow her to sell the kid. I am arranging for advanced treatment of both the mother and the kid at the government hospital in Raipur. "I have talked to the chief medical officer in Raipur to admit the mother and the baby and take care of all their medical needs."Despite various measures taken by the government, AIDS continues to spread in the country.
Goldy's miserable condition is a consequence of the ignorance of people about the disease.Earlier this month, a baby in New Delhi was abandoned twice before she was rescued by an NGO due to the belief that she was HIV positive.Dumped by her mother in an auto-rickshaw soon after she was born, she moved from the hands of a poor childless couple to the house of a medical representative before reaching the NGO.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Key nutrition scheme set to miss targets despite SC orders
www.livemint.com
by Pragya Singh and Sangeeta Singh
SC issues notices to chief secretaries of five states that it notes as the worst performers on the Anganwadi front
New Delhi: Despite 50 or so direct orders from the Supreme Court and a commitment by the current government under its National Common Minimum Programme, the only scheme to provide nutrition to children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers in India is set to miss its target.
Though the scheme has run for 32 years and spent more than Rs10,000 crore, the malnutrition rate among children up to six years old in India is nearly twice that of sub-Saharan Africa.
Decline in incidence of malnutrition has tapered, down to 46% in 2006, from 47% in 1999 and 51% in 1993, according to a series of government-conducted national family health surveys.
"There are more malnourished children in India than anywhere else in the world and virtually no progress has been made on this front in over a decade," said Santosh Mehrotra, a consultant on rural development at the Planning Commission.
He closely tracks the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). The National Common Minimum Programme is a priority list of development schemes that constituents of the current government, now sharply divided over the India-US nuclear deal, have all agreed would be top agenda items for the UPA government.
Without much response from programme implementors, the Supreme Court has decided to up its ante. In its latest hearing of this case on 25 July, it issued contempt of court notices to chief secretaries of five states that it noted were the worst performers on the Anganwadi front.
The chief secretaries of Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar, Orissa and Himachal Pradesh have been asked to appear and explain before a two-judge bench on 30 August.
The overall poor performance is being attributed to the failure of states to propagate Anganwadis that disburse nutritious food supplements and provide pre-school education, immunization referrals and other services, as part of the scheme. This despite an apex court order in April 2004 that directed the government to set up 1.4 million Anganwadis, or one in every settlement, by December 2008.
Several interim orders and reprimands have ensued since, but only 8,45,000 Anganwadis have been set up through March. To meet the Supreme Court specified target, 5,50,000 Anganwadis will have to be set up in the next 16 months. There were 8.45 lakh Anganwadis in February 2003 and 6,50,000 in March 2004, which means that less than 1,00,000 are being added every year. If centres that have been sanctioned—but don't yet function—were also taken into account, there would be under 1.1 million Anganwadis today. Only about 70 million of the country's 160 million children are currently covered by the scheme.
In Kerala, one of the "best" states on several fronts, including education, 29% children are underweight, 21% are stunted and 16% wasted, according to the third National Family Health Survey in 2004-05. In a previous survey held over 1998-99, 27% of the children in the state were found underweight, 11% wasted and 22% stunted.
"Despite our previous order, the pace at which the sanctioned Anganwadi centres are being made operational is a sad reflection on state governments," the court bench consisting of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice \nS.H. Kapadia said while passing the 25 July order.
"There is concern across the government about malnutrition, but some sections are, maybe, not convinced about the scheme. But there is no alternative to ICDS, we just need to run it right," said Biraj Patnaik, principal adviser to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court on the right-to- food case, as the matter has come to be known. The chief secretaries of Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar, Orissa and Himachal Pradesh have been asked to appear and explain before a two-judge bench on 30 August. The overall poor performance is being attributed to the failure of states to propagate Anganwadis that disburse nutritious food supplements and provide pre-school education, immunization referrals and other services, as part of the scheme.
This despite an apex court order in April 2004 that directed the government to set up 1.4 million Anganwadis, or one in every settlement, by December 2008.
Several interim orders and reprimands have ensued since, but only 8,45,000 Anganwadis have been set up through March.
To meet the Supreme Court specified target, 5,50,000 Anganwadis will have to be set up in the next 16 months. There were 8.45 lakh Anganwadis in February 2003 and 6,50,000 in March 2004, which means that less than 1,00,000 are being added every year.
If centres that have been sanctioned—but don't yet function—were also taken into account, there would be under 1.1 million Anganwadis today. Only about 70 million of the country's 160 million children are currently covered by the scheme.
In Kerala, one of the "best" states on several fronts, including education, 29% children are underweight, 21% are stunted and 16% wasted, according to the third National Family Health Survey in 2004-05.
In a previous survey held over 1998-99, 27% of the children in the state were found underweight, 11% wasted and 22% stunted.
"Despite our previous order, the pace at which the sanctioned Anganwadi centres are being made operational is a sad reflection on state governments," the court bench consisting of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S.H. Kapadia said while passing the 25 July order.
"There is concern across the government about malnutrition, but some sections are, maybe, not convinced about the scheme. But there is no alternative to ICDS, we just need to run it right," said Biraj Patnaik, principal adviser to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court on the right-to- food case, as the matter has come to be known.
In Madhya Pradesh, 60% of children are underweight, according to the 2004-05 survey, while 40% are stunted and 33% are wasted. In Rajasthan and Orissa, 44% are underweight, and in 22 states that include West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Manipur, 21-45% are stunted. The sooner action is taken to improve health and nutrition, the better it always is, points out Ishi Khosla, a nutritionist based in New Delhi.
"As the effects of not having the right kind of food can be devastating on a child's health and future, and the sooner he or she gets the right nutrients, the easier it is to reverse the effects of malnutrition," she says. "A lot depends on the state governments and how they go about addressing the scheme," says Patnaik. "We do see an urgency, specially with chief secretary after chief secretary being summoned to the courts. You see, the pressure from the court is so unrelenting that the states may stall for a month, or a while, but not for too long."
In Madhya Pradesh, 60% of children are underweight, according to the 2004-05 survey, while 40% are stunted and 33% are wasted. In Rajasthan and Orissa, 44% are underweight, and in 22 states that include West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Manipur, 21-45% are stunted. The sooner action is taken to improve health and nutrition, the better it always is, points out Ishi Khosla, a nutritionist based in New Delhi.
"As the effects of not having the right kind of food can be devastating on a child's health and future, and the sooner he or she gets the right nutrients, the easier it is to reverse the effects of malnutrition," she says.
"A lot depends on the state governments and how they go about addressing the scheme," says Patnaik. "We do see an urgency, specially with chief secretary after chief secretary being summoned to the courts. You see, the pressure from the court is so unrelenting that the states may stall for a month, or a while, but not for too long."
by Pragya Singh and Sangeeta Singh
SC issues notices to chief secretaries of five states that it notes as the worst performers on the Anganwadi front
New Delhi: Despite 50 or so direct orders from the Supreme Court and a commitment by the current government under its National Common Minimum Programme, the only scheme to provide nutrition to children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers in India is set to miss its target.
Though the scheme has run for 32 years and spent more than Rs10,000 crore, the malnutrition rate among children up to six years old in India is nearly twice that of sub-Saharan Africa.
Decline in incidence of malnutrition has tapered, down to 46% in 2006, from 47% in 1999 and 51% in 1993, according to a series of government-conducted national family health surveys.
"There are more malnourished children in India than anywhere else in the world and virtually no progress has been made on this front in over a decade," said Santosh Mehrotra, a consultant on rural development at the Planning Commission.
He closely tracks the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). The National Common Minimum Programme is a priority list of development schemes that constituents of the current government, now sharply divided over the India-US nuclear deal, have all agreed would be top agenda items for the UPA government.
Without much response from programme implementors, the Supreme Court has decided to up its ante. In its latest hearing of this case on 25 July, it issued contempt of court notices to chief secretaries of five states that it noted were the worst performers on the Anganwadi front.
The chief secretaries of Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar, Orissa and Himachal Pradesh have been asked to appear and explain before a two-judge bench on 30 August.
The overall poor performance is being attributed to the failure of states to propagate Anganwadis that disburse nutritious food supplements and provide pre-school education, immunization referrals and other services, as part of the scheme. This despite an apex court order in April 2004 that directed the government to set up 1.4 million Anganwadis, or one in every settlement, by December 2008.
Several interim orders and reprimands have ensued since, but only 8,45,000 Anganwadis have been set up through March. To meet the Supreme Court specified target, 5,50,000 Anganwadis will have to be set up in the next 16 months. There were 8.45 lakh Anganwadis in February 2003 and 6,50,000 in March 2004, which means that less than 1,00,000 are being added every year. If centres that have been sanctioned—but don't yet function—were also taken into account, there would be under 1.1 million Anganwadis today. Only about 70 million of the country's 160 million children are currently covered by the scheme.
In Kerala, one of the "best" states on several fronts, including education, 29% children are underweight, 21% are stunted and 16% wasted, according to the third National Family Health Survey in 2004-05. In a previous survey held over 1998-99, 27% of the children in the state were found underweight, 11% wasted and 22% stunted.
"Despite our previous order, the pace at which the sanctioned Anganwadi centres are being made operational is a sad reflection on state governments," the court bench consisting of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice \nS.H. Kapadia said while passing the 25 July order.
"There is concern across the government about malnutrition, but some sections are, maybe, not convinced about the scheme. But there is no alternative to ICDS, we just need to run it right," said Biraj Patnaik, principal adviser to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court on the right-to- food case, as the matter has come to be known. The chief secretaries of Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar, Orissa and Himachal Pradesh have been asked to appear and explain before a two-judge bench on 30 August. The overall poor performance is being attributed to the failure of states to propagate Anganwadis that disburse nutritious food supplements and provide pre-school education, immunization referrals and other services, as part of the scheme.
This despite an apex court order in April 2004 that directed the government to set up 1.4 million Anganwadis, or one in every settlement, by December 2008.
Several interim orders and reprimands have ensued since, but only 8,45,000 Anganwadis have been set up through March.
To meet the Supreme Court specified target, 5,50,000 Anganwadis will have to be set up in the next 16 months. There were 8.45 lakh Anganwadis in February 2003 and 6,50,000 in March 2004, which means that less than 1,00,000 are being added every year.
If centres that have been sanctioned—but don't yet function—were also taken into account, there would be under 1.1 million Anganwadis today. Only about 70 million of the country's 160 million children are currently covered by the scheme.
In Kerala, one of the "best" states on several fronts, including education, 29% children are underweight, 21% are stunted and 16% wasted, according to the third National Family Health Survey in 2004-05.
In a previous survey held over 1998-99, 27% of the children in the state were found underweight, 11% wasted and 22% stunted.
"Despite our previous order, the pace at which the sanctioned Anganwadi centres are being made operational is a sad reflection on state governments," the court bench consisting of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S.H. Kapadia said while passing the 25 July order.
"There is concern across the government about malnutrition, but some sections are, maybe, not convinced about the scheme. But there is no alternative to ICDS, we just need to run it right," said Biraj Patnaik, principal adviser to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court on the right-to- food case, as the matter has come to be known.
In Madhya Pradesh, 60% of children are underweight, according to the 2004-05 survey, while 40% are stunted and 33% are wasted. In Rajasthan and Orissa, 44% are underweight, and in 22 states that include West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Manipur, 21-45% are stunted. The sooner action is taken to improve health and nutrition, the better it always is, points out Ishi Khosla, a nutritionist based in New Delhi.
"As the effects of not having the right kind of food can be devastating on a child's health and future, and the sooner he or she gets the right nutrients, the easier it is to reverse the effects of malnutrition," she says. "A lot depends on the state governments and how they go about addressing the scheme," says Patnaik. "We do see an urgency, specially with chief secretary after chief secretary being summoned to the courts. You see, the pressure from the court is so unrelenting that the states may stall for a month, or a while, but not for too long."
In Madhya Pradesh, 60% of children are underweight, according to the 2004-05 survey, while 40% are stunted and 33% are wasted. In Rajasthan and Orissa, 44% are underweight, and in 22 states that include West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Manipur, 21-45% are stunted. The sooner action is taken to improve health and nutrition, the better it always is, points out Ishi Khosla, a nutritionist based in New Delhi.
"As the effects of not having the right kind of food can be devastating on a child's health and future, and the sooner he or she gets the right nutrients, the easier it is to reverse the effects of malnutrition," she says.
"A lot depends on the state governments and how they go about addressing the scheme," says Patnaik. "We do see an urgency, specially with chief secretary after chief secretary being summoned to the courts. You see, the pressure from the court is so unrelenting that the states may stall for a month, or a while, but not for too long."
Sixty per cent of infants in MP underweight
Madhya Pradesh has the worst statistics among the states to offer in terms of nutrition of children, with over 60 per cent of children in the 0-3 age group there being underweight.
While 60.3 per cent of the children in the 0-3 age group in Madhya Pradesh are underweight, in Jharkhand 59.3 per cent of the children suffer from under-nutrition, according to statistics provided by Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
As per the figures, given in a written reply, 58.4 per cent of the children in Bihar are underweight, while the figure for Chhattisgarh is only slightly better at 52.1 per cent.
The all-India figure for malnutrition among children in the 0-3 age group is 45.9 per cent.
The Northeastern states are better off, with Mizoram having the best statistic of 21.6 per cent.
Sikkim has the second-best record, with 22.6 per cent of the children in the state being underweight, while 23.8 per cent of the children in Manipur are malnourished.
While 60.3 per cent of the children in the 0-3 age group in Madhya Pradesh are underweight, in Jharkhand 59.3 per cent of the children suffer from under-nutrition, according to statistics provided by Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
As per the figures, given in a written reply, 58.4 per cent of the children in Bihar are underweight, while the figure for Chhattisgarh is only slightly better at 52.1 per cent.
The all-India figure for malnutrition among children in the 0-3 age group is 45.9 per cent.
The Northeastern states are better off, with Mizoram having the best statistic of 21.6 per cent.
Sikkim has the second-best record, with 22.6 per cent of the children in the state being underweight, while 23.8 per cent of the children in Manipur are malnourished.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
AIDS virus attacks brain on two fronts
The AIDS virus does not only destroy brain cells, it also inhibits the body from making new ones, according to a new study published in the United States.
"It's a double hit to the brain," wrote researcher Marcus Kaul in the study into the causes of the condition known as HIV-associated dementia published in the August issue of the Cell Stem Cell. A protein known as gp120 which is found on the surface of the HIV virus is responsible for the damage, the researchers from the Burnham Institute for Medical research and the University of California at San Diego found.
It's for the first time that the virus has ever been shown to affect stem cells. The HIV protein both causes brain injury and prevents its repair. The study found that gp120 in mice slowed down the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, the region of the brain which is vital for learning and memory. It has been long known that HIV infection could lead to acute dementia, but the numbers of cases are rising as HIV patients live longer thanks to drug therapies. Current anti-viral drugs cannot however easily penetrate into the brain tissue, thus leaving behind a reservoir of the virus. Scientists believe the team's research could help determine a new course of treatment for HIV dementia.
"It's a double hit to the brain," wrote researcher Marcus Kaul in the study into the causes of the condition known as HIV-associated dementia published in the August issue of the Cell Stem Cell. A protein known as gp120 which is found on the surface of the HIV virus is responsible for the damage, the researchers from the Burnham Institute for Medical research and the University of California at San Diego found.
It's for the first time that the virus has ever been shown to affect stem cells. The HIV protein both causes brain injury and prevents its repair. The study found that gp120 in mice slowed down the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, the region of the brain which is vital for learning and memory. It has been long known that HIV infection could lead to acute dementia, but the numbers of cases are rising as HIV patients live longer thanks to drug therapies. Current anti-viral drugs cannot however easily penetrate into the brain tissue, thus leaving behind a reservoir of the virus. Scientists believe the team's research could help determine a new course of treatment for HIV dementia.
Digital photography a new powerful communication tool
World Photography Day special
August 19, is marked as a World Photography Day, the day when the first photograph came in existence. It was announced by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in the year 1839, when two processes namely optical and chemical helped together put a real photograph. As per Robert Leggat book ‘A history of Photography’ refers on the name "Photography”, which was first used by Sir John Herschel in 1839, the year when the photographic process became public. The word is derived from the Greek words for light and writing i.e. photo meaning "light," and graph "drawing." And ‘Drawing with light" indicates word photography.
Since the time photographs came in existence, this mode of expression has undergone a dramatic change. Photographic films were pioneered by George Eastman in 1888 when he used his first camera, which he called as Kodak. From there to a journey of 35 mm, colour films, and now the digi medium, a credit to the evolving technology, this powerful means of communication has become a mode of visual expression, which has invaded our lives.
Today Photography is not only about crystallizing memories, of events, it is a profession, it’s fun, it is used for exchanging idea (and off course MMS !) and what not ? According to one of the research amount of digital information created last year is equal to three million times the amount of information in all the books ever written. 161 exabytes of digital information were created and copied last year. An exabyte is one quintal bytes or a billion gigabytes. If one put this information in terms of the written material it will be equal to 12 stacks of books, each extending the 93 million miles between the Earth and the sun. If we go at the same pace year 2010 it will be 988 exabytes. Lot of that is in form of digital images.
Interestingly all these expressions come to live by a life less piece called camera. Today with advent of digital medium we gave many ways to undertake the same activity be it a digital camera, video camera, mobile camera or web camera one has many options. With expansion of web, it has given an expanse to digital photography. Not only Photographs are used by media, to convey news, information, or by Hollywood/Bollywood to portray one’s personality, photography is also used in astronomy to medical diagnosis. In fact if one wants to write on its use it is a separate compendium, simple way be to think a world without photographs, to realize its usage. But there are negatives too photographs can be used for many other unwanted purposes, to sway opinions etc. Photographic lovers also feel that with advent of digital technology in this medium it has taken away the satisfaction of producing the piece of art which was earlier there and even has impacted ethics in photography. But on other side it has given rise to many new photographers who even have taken this as a hobby.
August 19, is marked as a World Photography Day, the day when the first photograph came in existence. It was announced by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in the year 1839, when two processes namely optical and chemical helped together put a real photograph. As per Robert Leggat book ‘A history of Photography’ refers on the name "Photography”, which was first used by Sir John Herschel in 1839, the year when the photographic process became public. The word is derived from the Greek words for light and writing i.e. photo meaning "light," and graph "drawing." And ‘Drawing with light" indicates word photography.
Since the time photographs came in existence, this mode of expression has undergone a dramatic change. Photographic films were pioneered by George Eastman in 1888 when he used his first camera, which he called as Kodak. From there to a journey of 35 mm, colour films, and now the digi medium, a credit to the evolving technology, this powerful means of communication has become a mode of visual expression, which has invaded our lives.
Today Photography is not only about crystallizing memories, of events, it is a profession, it’s fun, it is used for exchanging idea (and off course MMS !) and what not ? According to one of the research amount of digital information created last year is equal to three million times the amount of information in all the books ever written. 161 exabytes of digital information were created and copied last year. An exabyte is one quintal bytes or a billion gigabytes. If one put this information in terms of the written material it will be equal to 12 stacks of books, each extending the 93 million miles between the Earth and the sun. If we go at the same pace year 2010 it will be 988 exabytes. Lot of that is in form of digital images.
Interestingly all these expressions come to live by a life less piece called camera. Today with advent of digital medium we gave many ways to undertake the same activity be it a digital camera, video camera, mobile camera or web camera one has many options. With expansion of web, it has given an expanse to digital photography. Not only Photographs are used by media, to convey news, information, or by Hollywood/Bollywood to portray one’s personality, photography is also used in astronomy to medical diagnosis. In fact if one wants to write on its use it is a separate compendium, simple way be to think a world without photographs, to realize its usage. But there are negatives too photographs can be used for many other unwanted purposes, to sway opinions etc. Photographic lovers also feel that with advent of digital technology in this medium it has taken away the satisfaction of producing the piece of art which was earlier there and even has impacted ethics in photography. But on other side it has given rise to many new photographers who even have taken this as a hobby.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
DD may have special channel on health issues
DD plans to have a new channel namely 'DD-Health'. It will be jointly funded and promoted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Prasar Bharati and will cater to the needs of medical students across India.
The DD-Health channel will be operational next year, sources said. This may be mandatory on the list of must carry channels by cable operators. Six Doordarshan channels including DD-National, DD-News, Lok Sabha TV, and Rajya Sabha TV are already mandatory to be carried by the cable operators according to the government order.
“The DD-Health channel is an extension of similar projects undertaken by the Prasar Bharati in the past including its ongoing narrowcast transmission of agriculture series across various districts,” a source in Prasar Bharati said.
The DD-Health channel will be operational next year, sources said. This may be mandatory on the list of must carry channels by cable operators. Six Doordarshan channels including DD-National, DD-News, Lok Sabha TV, and Rajya Sabha TV are already mandatory to be carried by the cable operators according to the government order.
“The DD-Health channel is an extension of similar projects undertaken by the Prasar Bharati in the past including its ongoing narrowcast transmission of agriculture series across various districts,” a source in Prasar Bharati said.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Need to create mass movement around children
Central Chronicle, Aug 2, 2007
Bhopal, Aug 1: A three-day regional consultation towards preparation of India's country report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child began today at Bhopal. India's Country Report will have state government and this workshop is part of the process to collate the inputs and trigger the process in states. India has signed this international convention in year 1992 and is one of the most signed treaties in the world.
The same is being organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, with support from State's Women and Child Development department Government of Madhya Pradesh. More than fifty Participants from civil society and State Government from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, and Rajasthan are participating in this three-day meet.
Jabbar Dhakwala, Additional Secretary, Department of Social Justice Government of Madhya Pradesh spoke on the objectives of the workshop and state's commitment to provide support to the reporting process by India. He also spoke about key challenges which state is facing as regards to children. He welcomed the participants from outside the state
Dr Hamid El Bashir, State Representative, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh, said that society needs to lead the change process and could lead the thinking of the government as well. Children have unmet rights in Madhya Pradesh and we need a holistic approach when we talk of child's rights. We need to create a mass movement around children for making that happen. Madhya Pradesh State need's to strengthen the child rights monitoring and take into account child views when we decide for children view. When we decide not to include children in fact we are missing important members of the society.
Karuna Bishnoi Chief of Communication UNICEF Delhi spoke about the reporting guidelines of the state, and what are the expectations from the state for the county Report. She said we need to take into account the concluding observations as provided by the UN committee on the Child Rights Convention. She said that it is India's third country report. UNICEF will be supporting the process of reporting by Government of India on its progress in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the child.
Participants later in the day had thematic group discussions on the issue of education and health around the articles on the conventions. Dr Manohar Agnani Director Rajya Shiksha Kendra, CK Reejonia, Under Secretary Women and Child Development Government India, Razia Ismail Coordinator of India Alliance for Child rights, Anil Gulati UNICEF Communication officer were also present at the workshop.
Bhopal, Aug 1: A three-day regional consultation towards preparation of India's country report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child began today at Bhopal. India's Country Report will have state government and this workshop is part of the process to collate the inputs and trigger the process in states. India has signed this international convention in year 1992 and is one of the most signed treaties in the world.
The same is being organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, with support from State's Women and Child Development department Government of Madhya Pradesh. More than fifty Participants from civil society and State Government from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, and Rajasthan are participating in this three-day meet.
Jabbar Dhakwala, Additional Secretary, Department of Social Justice Government of Madhya Pradesh spoke on the objectives of the workshop and state's commitment to provide support to the reporting process by India. He also spoke about key challenges which state is facing as regards to children. He welcomed the participants from outside the state
Dr Hamid El Bashir, State Representative, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh, said that society needs to lead the change process and could lead the thinking of the government as well. Children have unmet rights in Madhya Pradesh and we need a holistic approach when we talk of child's rights. We need to create a mass movement around children for making that happen. Madhya Pradesh State need's to strengthen the child rights monitoring and take into account child views when we decide for children view. When we decide not to include children in fact we are missing important members of the society.
Karuna Bishnoi Chief of Communication UNICEF Delhi spoke about the reporting guidelines of the state, and what are the expectations from the state for the county Report. She said we need to take into account the concluding observations as provided by the UN committee on the Child Rights Convention. She said that it is India's third country report. UNICEF will be supporting the process of reporting by Government of India on its progress in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the child.
Participants later in the day had thematic group discussions on the issue of education and health around the articles on the conventions. Dr Manohar Agnani Director Rajya Shiksha Kendra, CK Reejonia, Under Secretary Women and Child Development Government India, Razia Ismail Coordinator of India Alliance for Child rights, Anil Gulati UNICEF Communication officer were also present at the workshop.
Safe drinking water may reduce infant mortality
Published in The Pioneer, Aug 2, 2007
Safe drinking water can help reduce infant mortality and improve human development indicators," said Hamid El Bashir, State representative of UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh while speaking at inaugural session of the training programme being held on data analysis under multi district assessment of water safety (MDAWS) at Bhopal.
This is a four-day training programme which is being organised by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) with support of UNICEF and Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) and MAPCOST Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology for twelve states, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Speaking at the meeting , Sudhir Saxena, chief engineer in Public Health Engineering Department, said that State has 4 lakh water sources and majority of them are dependent on ground water. Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) with support from UNICEF and Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) has completed a statewide water safety assessment programme.
Sam Godfrey, UNICEF's Water and Environment sanitation officer said that the experience on MDAWS data analysis in Madhya Pradesh will form the basis of providing training to the participants of other States. Based on the earlier training held at Bhopal in August 2006, MDAWS study was undertaken by all the participating States and data collection was completed. Overall programme will help to make water safety for India, which will help in programme planning and implementation nationwide.
Safe drinking water can help reduce infant mortality and improve human development indicators," said Hamid El Bashir, State representative of UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh while speaking at inaugural session of the training programme being held on data analysis under multi district assessment of water safety (MDAWS) at Bhopal.
This is a four-day training programme which is being organised by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) with support of UNICEF and Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) and MAPCOST Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology for twelve states, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Speaking at the meeting , Sudhir Saxena, chief engineer in Public Health Engineering Department, said that State has 4 lakh water sources and majority of them are dependent on ground water. Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) with support from UNICEF and Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) has completed a statewide water safety assessment programme.
Sam Godfrey, UNICEF's Water and Environment sanitation officer said that the experience on MDAWS data analysis in Madhya Pradesh will form the basis of providing training to the participants of other States. Based on the earlier training held at Bhopal in August 2006, MDAWS study was undertaken by all the participating States and data collection was completed. Overall programme will help to make water safety for India, which will help in programme planning and implementation nationwide.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
More projects for MP, implementation of these is the key !
87 union government projects worth Rs1921 crore have been approved till date for MP. thw projects fall in category of infrastructure development, expansion of public facilities, slums reforms and to bring betterment in the standard of living of the slum dwellers in the urban areas of the state. An amount of Rs 344.18 crore and Rs 91.7 crore have been sanctioned respectively by the union and state governments as their share.
Moreover, approval for 27 projects worth Rs 210.04 crore has been received for 24 cities for reforms in urban slums under the integrated housing and slum programme. Amount of Rs 79.25 crore and Rs 9.91 crore have been sanctioned by the union and the state governments as their share. Towns such as Dewas, Gwalior, Vidisha, Ganjbasoda, Sironj, Lateri, Khandwa, Damoh, Balaghat, Bairasia, Kurwai, Katni,Majholi, Patan, Shahpur, Narsinghpur, Pansemal, Khujner, Barela, Depalpur, Betma, Katangi, Gautampura and Petalawat have been included in the scheme.
Hope these are implemented well, so that people in villages and slum can get some benefit of better infrastructure...
Moreover, approval for 27 projects worth Rs 210.04 crore has been received for 24 cities for reforms in urban slums under the integrated housing and slum programme. Amount of Rs 79.25 crore and Rs 9.91 crore have been sanctioned by the union and the state governments as their share. Towns such as Dewas, Gwalior, Vidisha, Ganjbasoda, Sironj, Lateri, Khandwa, Damoh, Balaghat, Bairasia, Kurwai, Katni,Majholi, Patan, Shahpur, Narsinghpur, Pansemal, Khujner, Barela, Depalpur, Betma, Katangi, Gautampura and Petalawat have been included in the scheme.
Hope these are implemented well, so that people in villages and slum can get some benefit of better infrastructure...
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