BIHAR

The number of essential drugs to be given free in the government hospitals has been increased from 387 to 611, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who also holds the charge of Health department, said on Saturday after releasing a book with essential drugs list (EDL) and essential equipment list (EEL).

Among the essential medicines added are those used in treatment of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, kidney issues, stroke and infant and maternal health. State health Society executive directorSanjay Kumar Singhsaid the names of these drugs have been added to the Software from where government hospitals make their requisitions. He said for the new drugs,BiharMedical Services and Corporation Limited will float a tender and go for rate contract. Singh said the new drugs will be made available in the next three months.

The Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS) ofBihar, which is actively engaged in the anti-tobacco campaign for the last several years, on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enforce a complete nationwide ban on the production and consumption ofpan masala,gutka, chewing flavoured tobacco and smokeless tobacco (SLT) in the country in the interest of adolescents Health.

In Bihar, 7.3% children have been found in the habit of consuming tobacco. A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that tobacco consumption was prevalent in 6.6% boys and 8% girls among the school students in all the 38 districts of the state.

The construction arm of Larsen & Toubro has received a contract for the design and construction of the first phase of the Patna Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) Metro project.

The project, being funded by Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), is scheduled to be completed within 42 months, it said.

“L&T is proud to be associated with this first underground Metro rail project for Phase-1 in Patna. Over the years, L&T has significantly enhanced its capability to build faster, and reliable mass transit systems and this project is in line with its strategic goals

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, called for a ‘one nation, one power tariff’ policy, stating that some States have to purchase power at a higher rate than others.

Unveiling power department projects worth 15,871 crore, he said, Bihar gets electricity from the Central Government’s power Plants at a higher rate compared to other States.

He said that his Government has decided to install smart prepaid electricity meters in the State to ensure transparency.

Kumar said that his Government ensured electricity connection to every household of the State in October 2018.

The statecabinet sanctioned Rs 838.54 crore for construction of new buildings and development of in four medical institutions of traditional medical practices and also Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). The amount sanctioned is pertaining to the 2021-22 fiscal.

For the construction of buildings and related other infrastructure in Rajkiya Ayodhya Shivkumari Ayurved College and Hospital at Begusarai, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 257.46 crore. It has the capacity to 150 students. Similarly, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 121.01 crore for Rai Bahadur Tunki Sah Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital at Muzaffarpur, which has the capacity to accommodate 120 students.

On the other hand, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 195.63 crore for carrying out construction activities in Maharani Rameshwari Indian Medical Science Institute at Mohanpur in Darbhanga.

At a time when many states are facing incessant late monsoon rainfall, theBiharcabinet declared 7,841 villages of 11 districts asdroughthit and sanctioned Rs 500 crore in aid.

Every family in these villages across 937 panchayats in 96 blocks will receive special assistance worth Rs 3,500 each from the Disaster Management department.

The disaster management department had identified Jehanabad,Gaya, Aurangabad, Sheikhpura, Nawada, Munger, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui and , as the worst-hit districts.

The CM said the 15kg of food grain being supplied per student per month at the SC/ST welfare hostels should be continued. He also directed them to ensure that the old SC/ST hostel buildings are renovated and converted into new ones.

The CM said the implementation of the Scholarship and merit-cum-POVERTY scholarships should be regularly monitored to ensure that it is executed with transparency to provide benefits to the SC/ST students. Further, the monetary incentive schemes for them should also be implemented, he said.

BiharCMNitishKumar said since the country is passing through difficult times due to the prolonged covid-19 pandemic, the prices of certain commodities would increase and different types of hurdles might come up, but there should not be unnecessary and too much debates on issues like price rise and increase in the rate of Unemployment.

On being asked whether he would suggest the Centre to take a step to provide certain relief to the common people in the wake of recent increase in the rate of unemployment and frequent rise in the prices of petroleum products, Nitish said the country has been facing Covid-19 pandemic for the last one and a half years. There have been hurdles on several things after the start of the pandemic. Naturally, it has put adverse effect on the countrys economic situation.