India News
AES deaths in Bihar: Supreme Court to hear plea for urgent action on Monday
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As the number of children dying of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar crossed 120, the Supreme Court today (Wednesday, June 19) agreed to hear on Monday a plea seeking direction to the Centre to urgently constitute a team of medical experts to address the health crisis.
A vacation bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant agreed to hear the plea next Monday after the petitioner’s counsel sought an urgent listing of the matter.
The outbreak of AES in Bihar has killed 130 children, reported NDTV. In Muzaffarpur’s Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, 93 children have died. Another 19 died at the city’s Kejriwal Maternity Hospital.
The National Human Rights Commission, said media reports, has sent notices to the Union Health Ministry and Bihar government, who have four weeks to respond.
The petition filed by advocates Manohar Pratap and Sanpreet Singh Ajmani in Supreme Court seek a direction to the Centre and the State of Bihar to arrange for 500 Intensive Care Units (ICU) along with the requisite number of medical professionals to deal with the outbreak, arrangement of 100 mobile ICUs and to set up a medical board to be sent to Muzaffarpur, the epicentre of the crisis.
The petitioner also sought that all necessary medical equipment be provided by the Centre for the effective treatment of the children.
The petitioners claim that the State of Bihar has failed to take steps to prevent the spread of Encephalitis and thus the Court’s intervention in the situation becomes imperative.
They say there is a “complete failure of state machinery” in dealing with the situation and the continuing act of negligence of the part of the State of Bihar is leading to the violation of Right to Life guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
“Despite death of more than 100 children, state govt. has shown no prompt steps to prevent the spread of the said disease in adjoining districts. The present act of the negligence by the Respondents who are state within the framework of India Constitution has resulted in death of hundreds of young innocent lives. This continuing act of negligence on the part of state is consistently violating the fundamental right to life guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the petition says.
The petitioners have also cited media reports to say that the medical professionals are unable to control the deaths in Muzaffarpur on account of lack of facilities and trained professionals.
The petitioners have also prayed for a direction to the State of Bihar to notify an extraordinary government order directing all private medical institutes in the area of Muzaffarpur to provide free medical treatment to the affected patients.
The petition also seeks the constitution of a fact-finding committee to look into the role of negligent persons involved.
Prayer has also been made to disburse compensation to the tune of Rs. 10 lakh to the families of those persons who lost their lives due to State’s negligence.
In Bihar, amid mounting criticism and protests, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited Muzzaffarpur yesterday for the first time since the outbreak began. He was met with cries of “Wapas jao (go back)” at the Sri Krishna Medical College.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, a doctor, who visited on Sunday, said “everyone is taking responsibility” and the government is “delivering the best it can”.
Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey and Muzaffarpur MP Ajay Nishad came under attack for shocking responses to the outbreak. Pandey drew widespread criticism for inquiring about an India-Pakistan cricket match at a press conference held by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. Nishad drew flak for claiming the state government made just a “few tiny mistakes” in tackling the outbreak.
State Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar told reporters in Patna that the CM was satisfied with medical facilities at SKMCH. Nitish also ordered 24-hour availability of doctors to deal with emergency situation, the chief secretary added.
Hospitals, struggling to deal with the situation, are admitting four children to a bed. There are not enough doctors or equipment to handle the outbreak.
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, a viral infection, is a bunch of diseases that include hypoglycemia, dyselectrolytemia, chicken pox, Japanese Encephalitis positive and AES unknown. AES outbreaks are routine in areas in and around Muzaffarpur during summer, and mostly affects children below 15 years of age.
It can be brought about by any number of virus, bacteria or even fungi – the actual reason has been elusive so far.
AES affects the central nervous system. It starts with high fever, then hampers neurological functions causing mental disorientation, seizure, confusion, delirium, coma. This year has been one of the worst outbreaks of the disease in Bihar. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
Sankalp Saptaah: PM Modi today launches week-long initiative for aspirational blocks at Bharat Mandapam
The country’s Sankalp Saptah programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks throughout 329 districts, seeks to increase block-level government while also improving civilian quality of life.
At Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a week-long project named Sankalp Saptaah for the country’s aspirational groups.
He also conversed with attendees, including members from the panchayat and the block level.
The week-long programme, which is described in an official news release, is closely correlated with the national Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), which Modi introduced in January of this year.
The country’s Sankalp Saptah programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks throughout 329 districts, seeks to increase block-level government while also improving civilian quality of life.
Chintan Shivirs were held nationwide at the village and block levels to help with the effective execution of the ABP and to create strong block development strategies. The result of these careful considerations, which will be seen in each of the 500 aspirational blocks, is Sankalp Saptaah.
On October 9, the final day of the seven-day event, a celebration of the week’s worth of effort will take place under the banner of Sankalp Saptaah – Samavesh Samaroh.
Speaking at the inaugural function, the prime minister claimed that more than 25 crore people’s lives in 112 districts throughout the nation had been improved by the aspirational districts plan. He asserted that the quality of living had changed. Now, the aspirational blocks programme will be built on the success of the aspirational districts programme, he said.
According to the statement, about 3,000 panchayat and block level functionaries and representatives of the people are expected to attend the inaugural event at Bharat Mandapam, in addition to about two lakh farmers, block and panchayat level functionaries, and people from other walks of life who will participate virtually.
Starting on October 3 and running through October 9, each day of Sankalp Saptaah is devoted to a distinct development subject on which all aspirational blocks will focus. Sampoorna Swasthya, Suposhit Pariwaar, Swachhta, Krishi, Shiksha, and Samridhi Diwas are some of the themes for the first six days, according to the statement.
India News
Madhya Pradesh elections: Congress to release first list of candidates after October 5
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections draw nearer, sources stated on Friday that the Congress is expected to reveal its first list of candidates after October 5 as part of its strategy. A Congress source told IANS that the party will announce the names of the candidates at the ideal moment and that the campaigning for the Assembly elections is already underway.
The source stated that the party would issue its initial list of candidates after October 5, when it is anticipated that the Election Commission will have released its polling schedule.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s general secretary, will be in the state on October 5 to speak at a large public gathering, the source added, and her input will be sought before the release of the final list.
To narrow down the field of candidates for the elections, the party organised two sessions of the Screening Committee in the national capital.
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will speak at a public meeting on Saturday in the Kala Pipla Assembly seat.
Two lists of candidates from the BJP have already been made public for the upcoming elections. Along with four other current MPs, the ruling party has included three Union Ministers in its second list. On Monday, a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a public gathering in Bhopal, the second list of 39 candidates was made public.
The list also included Kailash Vijayvargiya, the national general secretary of the BJP.
The list includes the names of three Union Ministers: Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti from Narsinghpur; Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Party’s State Election Management Committee from Dimni-Morena; and Fagan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel from Niwas.
India News
President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Women’s Reservation Bill
The new law provides 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became law in India after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, days after the historic vote in the Parliament. The new law provides 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. However, the law will be imposed after the new census and delimitation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill which is officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in both the houses during the special session of the Parliament. The historic bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20, with 454 MPs voting in its favour and 2 voting against it. In the Rajya Sabha, the bill was passed unanimously on September 21 with 214 MPs voting in favour of the bill.
Issuing a gazette notification, the Government of India stated that the Bill has become an Act after the approval granted by the President. The notification read that the act will come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
While supporting the historic bill in the Parliament, the Opposition condemned the government for not bringing the quota for women into immediate effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament during the bill’s discussion that it could only come into effect after 2029 due to the pending census and delimitation.
A day after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that with the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, the nation usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. He added that this is not merely legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made the nation. He exclaimed that India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.
