CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh has immense potential to produce Eri silk, Chief Executive Office of Central Silk Board Ranjit Ranjan Okhandiyar on Friday told Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Okhandiyar said this while paying a courtesy call on Baghel. He was accompanied by Director, Vanya Silk Mill Pvt Ltd, D.S. Kasare.

Baghel assured them cooperation and said production of Eri Silk in Chhattisgarh would certainly provide new means of employment to farmers, tribals, youths and women.

Okkhandiyar said that Eri silk is obtained from castor plant and it is high on demand in the national and international market.

He told Chief Minister that mulberry and tussar silk industries have already been established in the state and now cultivation and production of Eri cocoon must be promoted.

This would further boost the income of farmers, make them self-dependent and improve their living standards.

He added that earlier the Eri silk industries in the country were completely dependent on the import of Eri cocoons for silk production.

Now, with the approval of Central Silk Board to produce Eri cocoons in Chhattisgarh, the country would not have to depend on imports.

Kasare said he has submitted a proposal for cultivation of Eri cocoon in an area of 10,000 acres in Chhattisgarh under Silk Samagra-2 of Central Silk Board.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has congratulated all members of NACHA for winning the award.

We take pride in glorifying the beauty of our culture across the world. It is a matter of pride for Chhattisgarh that NACHA is promoting Chhattisgarhi culture on a global level, he said.

This is the first award for NACHA, which was set up in Chicago in 2017 to promote the heritage and culture of Chhattisgarh outside of India.

The Minister said that presently under NFSA, a total of 79.51 crore beneficiaries in the country were covered by the states and Union Territories for receiving the monthly benefits of highly subsidized foodgrains, an official statement said.As per the requirements of Chhattisgarh, only rice was allocated to it in 2018-91, 2019-20 and 2020-21.In 2021-22 (till July 2021), the allocation totalled 4.61 lakh tonnes. She said that under NFSA-2013, only foodgrains namely rice, wheat and coarse grains are allocated to states and Union Territories for distribution to NFSA eligible beneficiaries and households.

In just one year, these Krishna Kunjs have transformed into lush green spaces adorned with numerous trees.

Under the scheme, 55,781 trees have been planted across 224 acres in 169 urban centres.

Aiming at motivating people to plant trees and save existing ones, the government has undertaken to develop Krishna Kunj in all urban bodies.

The initiative includes planting of trees that contribute to environmental balance and provide abundant oxygen including sandalwood, rudraksha, banyan, peepal, kadamb and more.

Additionally, Krishna Kunj promotes fruit trees like mango, tamarind, ber, ganga imli, jamun, tendu, chironji, pomegranate, kaitha, palash, bel and amla among others.

In a bid to increase the nutritional value of rice distributed to ration card holders, the Chhattisgarh government will distribute fortified rice (FRK) under one of its ambitious PDS schemes from April 1.

An official communication said on Monday that FRK is loaded with micronutrients like iron, folic acid, Vitamin B-12 and several minerals that provide essential nourishment to the body and help prevent various diseases.

The communiqu added that in preparation of FRK of this kind, 99 percent normal rice and 1 percent fortified rice is used, which may give a slightly different colour and shape than normal rice.

The mixture eliminates the deficiency of additional nutrients in human body and increases immunity against diseases.

The communiqu said that FRK must not be separated while using it and urged consumers to consume the nutritious rice for better health.

The Mahasamund district administration on Monday clarified that no house under the Atal Awas Yojana was registered or allotted to anyone by the Chhattisgarh Housing Board (CGHB) in village Bansula in Basna.

CGHB Executive Engineer, Mahasamund, said in a report to the district Collector that 262 buildings were to be constructed under the scheme in Bansula. The tender for the work was invited in 2008.

The officer said that some people illegally encroached the existing buildings under the scheme. As these were unfit for residential purpose, fearing loss of life, the people living in encroachments were repeatedly told to vacate the premises.

Meanwhile, unused construction material like iron, brick and others were stolen. Police action is under process.

The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Chhattisgarh has fallen to an all-time low of 137.

A communiqu from the Health Department said that MMR, which was 159 between 2016-18, fell due to special attention given to the health of pregnant andlactating women as well as infants.

A special bulletin from the office of the Registrar General on Monday said the MMR has dipped 22 points.

MMR is defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy or termination of pregnancy, regardless of the site or duration of pregnancy.

The maternal mortality rate is used to represent the risk associated withpregnancy among women.

Between 50 to 98 percent of maternal deaths are caused by direct obstetric causes (hemorrhage, infection and hypertensive disorders, ruptured uterus, hepatitis and anemia). Deaths are also linked toillegally induced abortion

All India Mahatma Phule Samta Parishad President Chhagan Bhujbal presented a Phule turban, a shawl, award money and a memento to Baghel at a function organized by the Mahatma Phule Memorial ‘Samta Bhoomi’ in Pune.

One per cent of the population ofChhattisgarhis suffering fromsickle cell, a genetic blood disorder. All the community health centres, district hospitals, and medical college hospitals in the state have the facility of free tests, medication, and consultations.

State Sickle Cell Institute is functioning in Capital city, where there are facilities for tertiary care of patients. Medical officers and lab technicians from across the state are also given training on the Sickle cell.

Sickle Cell is a genetic disease and it is not caused due to blood transfusion or malnutrition. There are two types of this disease, Sickle Cell disease SS and Sickle Cell carrier AS.

Sickle cell disease SS can cause severe pain and discomfort to the patient and might require frequent blood transfusions. But with proper medication by the doctor, the patient can live longer and can avoid critical problems.

Over 70% Maoist cadres are forcibly recruited as children without the consent of their parents. They are mostly roped in at 15 and given a gun at 17, says a survey conducted by Bastar police among surrendered Maoists.

The recruited kids are not allowed to go home for years, some never, not even if any of their parents dies, say police. Whats more, a shocking 25% of them end up getting forcibly sterilised in youth, says the survey.

There are 12 Maoists recruitment hotspots identified by police villages from where at least 10 cadres have joined PLGA. The surrendered cadres shared heart-breaking stories of the hardship and pain they underwent as children in an insurgent outfit. They were banned from visiting home or meeting parents for years. They werent allowed to go home even if a parent died, not to speak of visiting families for festivals.