MLA LAD funds to be used on health sector this year, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Chief ministerAshok Gehlothas announced to bring a change in the rules governing MLA LAD funds by making a provision to spend it only on strengthening Health Services in the present financial year.

The has increased the MLA LAD fund from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore from this financial year. Of the total, Rs 3 crore was allocated for CM Relief Fund by each of the 200 MLAs for the vaccination drive in the 18-44 years age group.

National Food Security Act: Rajasthan govt may open portal for new registration from April

The states food and civil supplies department may open the portal for adding more beneficiaries under the National Act (NFSA) from April this year.
To start new registration of NFSA beneficiaries with urban areas, where the number of beneficiaries is very low, the department has sent the file to the chief ministers office (CMO) after being approved by the food ministerPratap Singh Khachariyawas.

CMAshok Gehlothad announced during his budget speech that 10 lakh new beneficiaries would be added to the NFSA list in the next financial year.

In urban areas like Jaipur, where the Percentage of beneficiaries is around 20-25%, new beneficiaries could be added on a priority basis, Agarwal had said. Gehlot had written to Prime MinisterNarendra Modiurging him to increase the limit on the number of NFSA beneficiaries, which was earlier, determined based on the 2011 census – on the basis of the current Population (2021) in the state.

Investments worth 6k Cr get grounded in petroleum sector

Out of the nearly Rs 23,000 crore worth of proposals in the petroleum sector, over Rs 6,000 crore has been grounded, according to a statement by the department.

During the InvestRajasthan summit Cairn India (Rs 20,000 crore), Oil India (Rs 663 crore),Ongc(Rs 1,050 crore) andFocus Energy(Rs 1,125 crore) had signed MoUs with the State Government to make the investments.

Cairn had proposed maximum investment and the company is implementing projects worth Rs 5,671 crore in Barmer and Jalore.

Similarly, Focus Energy has also started implementing projects worth Rs 113 crore in Jaisalmer.

ONGC has also started exploration and production in Jaisalmer and Bikaner. The company is in the process of investing Rs 212 crore.

Oil India has already invested rs 144 crore in various exploration and field development projects.

Anaemia in Rajasthan kids up 8.5% in 5 years despite food schemes by Centre, state

The Centres National Family Health Survey (2019-21) NFHS-5 has revealed startling statistics showing that prevalence of anaemia has not only increased among children and Women, but has gone up among men as well.

Comparing prevalence of anaemia in NFHS-4 (2015-16) with NFHS-5 (2019-21), the figures shows that in children aged 6-59 months, the prevalence has increased from 58.6% to 67.1%, a massive jump of 8.5%. Despite a lot of programmes launched by the Centre and state governments for improving nutritional levels in children, the prevalence of anaemia has gone up drastically among pre-school children.

In women aged from 15-19 years, anaemia has gone up from 54.1% to 59.1%. The rising prevalence of anaemia in adolescent and young women is a major cause of concern as it increases risks in complication in pregnancies and also it enhances chances of birth of anaemic babies. The NFHS survey further shows that in pregnant women (15-49 years) it rose to 52.2% from 50.4%.

In non-pregnant women (15-49 years) too, it has gone up from 53.2% to 57.2%. While in all women aged 15-49 years, it increased from 53.1% to 57%. Not only in children and pregnant women, prevalence of anaemia has increased among men. In men aged from 15-49 years, its prevalence has increased from 22.7% to 25% and in 15-19 year-old men, it has gone up from 29.2% to 31.1%.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot launches health projects worth Rs 231 crore

Chief ministerAshok Gehlot inaugurated as many as 349 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, 178 neonatal ICU beds, 10 paediatric ICU beds and 160 Oxygen Plants across the state.

He also inaugurated two liquid oxygen generation plants. The launched projects are worth Rs 231.6 crore.

The oxygen plants included the ones established with the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds from Pipad, Bhopalgarh and Nohar.

The CM also laid the the foundation stone for a total of 404 neonatal ICU beds and paediatric ICU beds, which will cost Rs 50.6 crore.

Rajasthan: Bill to safeguard lives of lawyers likely to be introduced in upcoming monsoon session

The is likely to introduce theRajasthanAdvocate (Prevention of offences and damages to property)billin the upcoming monsoon session of the assembly. Thelawyershave been agitating for the same. Under the draft bill, an attack on a lawyer is made cognizable and nonbailable offence and a case of death of the lawyer could invite a maximum sentence of death or life term.

Under the bill, anyactof assault, grievous hurt, criminal force, criminal intimidation and threat to an advocate will be prohibited in case it happened in connection with discharge of duties.

Besides prior to the registration of cognizable offence against an advocate, the same information has to be passed on to the president or secretary of the concerned bar association and no less than a deputy superintendent of Police (Dy SP) will investigate the matter.

Mission Buniyad to promote digital edu in all districts

The saidMission Buniyad, a programme which is based on digital Education, will be implemented in all districts.

Chief secretaryUma Sharmaduring a review meeting directed the Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIIF) to work on a revised proposal for the programme, which is currently being run in six districts.

The programme is being run in Bhilwara,Dholpur, Sikar, Karauli, Sirohi and Udaipur districts at present.

Under this, tablets are being given to the girl students from class 8 to class 12 to aid their education process.

Rajasthan first state to get genome lab

Rajasthanhas become the first state in the country to start a genome sequencing facility. Meanwhile, following the detection of Delta+ variant of Covid in three states, the Health department had enhanced surveillance across the state.

Health ministerRaghu Sharmasaid for the prevention and control of Covid in the state, the genome sequencing lab has been set at Sawai Man Singh Hospital.

The states genome sequencing lab has started functioning from June 15. The machine has a capacity of conducting genome sequencing of 20 samples daily, but soon its capacity will be increased to 80. It takes 3 to 4 days in getting report of a sample sent for genome sequencing.

Sikar 1st in Raj with tobacco licence

Alongside its rise as another Education hub in the state,Sikarcity has adopted strict measures to discourage tobacco consumption, especially among the youth, and has become the first city in Rajasthan to start issuing licences for sale of tobacco products.
It is now mandatory in Sikar to procure a licence for selling tobacco products. After issuing an extraordinary gazette notification, the nagar parishad (municipal council) has finalized a licence fee.

Under the new system, no person will be allowed to sell, store or distribute tobacco products without permission from the civic body in the form of license.

As per the notification, a wholesaler of tobacco products will have to pay a licence fee of Rs 25,000 per year, roadside vendors (kiosks) Rs 2,400 annually, and permanent shops Rs 4,800 annually.

Health department to conduct door-to-door survey to check black fungus cases in Rajasthan

While Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital conducted marathon surgeries of 19 debridement ofblack fungus casesand 22 endoscopic biopsies were done for diagnosing mucormycosis (also known as black fungus) on Saturday, the Health department issued orders for conductingdoor-to-door surveyin the state for identification of suspected cases for their early treatment.