28.05.21

As the deadly second wave of COVID-19 appears to be waning in the state, Haryana Government has decided to conduct the third serological survey in all 22 districts.

by

The state’s Health Department had last year conducted two serological surveys in Haryana, first in August 2020 and second in October 2020. The sero-survey analyses the blood samples of selected individuals for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. It helps in determining a rough estimate of how much Population has been exposed to the virus.

Haryana, which is currently under lockdown restrictions, has been witnessing decline in fresh COVID-19 cases and deaths since mid-May.

With the fatality rate of 1.11 percent, Haryana has seen 8383 COVID-19 related deaths till June 1. The cumulative case tally stands at 757868 while around 733205 have recovered from the virus with the state recording recovering rate of 96.75 percent.

Aimed at benefitting more than 13 lakh females in the first phase, the Punjab Government on Friday launched the women-empowerment oriented Udaan Scheme throughout the State under which sanitary pads would be distributed free of cost to needy women and girls of the state every month.

by

Launching the scheme on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day, the state Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary said that the main objective of the scheme is to protect women or girls from menstrual hygiene related diseases, spread awareness about menstrual hygiene, improve accessibility to basic hygiene products, promote better standard of living for women by improving the Quality Of Life, enhance women’s self esteem, and ensure safe disposal of sanitary pads.

Chaudhary informed that under the first phase, a total 1,22,91,300 sanitary pads would be distributed to 13,65,700 beneficiaries through workers and helpers of 27,314 Anganwari Centres. She categorically added that ASHA, ANMs, staff under Department of and local volunteers etc can be roped in as and when needed or shall be involved where Anganwari Centres do not exist.

Himachal would now have excise police to check the inter-state and intra-state smuggling of liquor, illicit trade and bootlegging of liquor.

by

Giving approval to the excise policy for financial year 2021-22, the state cabinet on Monday approved in principle to have excise Police in the Excise and Department to check the inter-state and intra-state smuggling of liquor, illicit trade and bootlegging of liquor leading to substantial loss of excise revenue to the government exchequer.

According to the new policy, low-price brands of IMFL will be cheaper as license fees and excise duty have been reduced. However, the liquor quota of bars attached to hotels has been reduced by 50 per cent in the state.

Under the new policy, the facility of transfer of quota within district and inter-district has also been approved.

The new policy envisages collection of Rs 1,829 crore revenue during the year which is Rs 228 crore higher than the financial year 2020-21 thereby registering an increase of 14 per cent

Uttarakhand plans to extend midday meals to more schools

by

TheCentrehas released a budget of Rs 216 crore for the mid-day meal scheme in Uttarakhands schools and using it, the states Education department plans to extend the benefit to more schools, especially 55 more madrassas. The scheme is already running in several madrassas ofUttarakhand.

In Uttarakhand, nearly 6.7 lakh students from classes 1 to 8 benefit from the midday meal scheme.

Education department officials said that a of the midday meal scheme has also been conducted to get feedback fromvarious stakeholders. They said hearing from the stakeholders will help improve the schemes implementation.

To draw on local participation in bringing down Covid-19 cases in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given directions to start a Mera gaon, corona mukt gaon campaign at the rural level and a similar drive in urban areas at the ward level.

by

The best performing areas will be rewarded through variouss means. This is being done, the CM said, to generate awareness about the novel coronavirus and ensuring that everyone followed Covid appropriate behaviour.

Out of the 98,386 revenue villages in the state, complete testing had taken place in 89,512 villages and patients had been found in 28,742 villages where testing was being increased.

In this initiative, all public representatives and agencies will encourage people to follow Covid protocols and ensure that others follow them too. Villages in a district declared Covid-free first will be given benefits of some social schemes.

Vaccine wastage down by half but Chhattisgarh & Jharkhand states of concern’: Official

by

Even as wastage ofCovid-19vaccinedoseshas come down in most states over the last month, it has increased inJharkhand,Chhattisgarhand Madhya Pradesh among major states and UTs, raising concerns over the need to further improve vaccine management.

Wastage of doses in Jharkhand rose to 6.4% as on Wednesday morning, double the 3.1% reported on April 22. Chhattisgarh has a wastage of 7.4%, up from 2.9%. Madhya Pradesh reported wastage of 3.3% of doses against 1.4% till about a month ago, official data of 15 states, that currently have maximum doses of anti-Covid shots available, showed.

Over 1.7 crore doses of Vaccines are still available with states. Of this, 1.4 crore are with 15 states. UP has the largest balance availability with 25.3 lakh doses, followed byTamil NaduandAndhra Pradeshat 13.1 lakh doses each.Gujarat, MP and Bengal have over 10 lakh doses as balance available stocks, the Health ministry data showed.

In Patna, Bihar, four cases of white fungus’ or candidiasis’ have been discovered.

by

This infection may be caused by a lack of immunity or by coming into contact with items that contain these moulds, such as water.

White fungus patients have Covid-like symptoms but test negative for the infection, which can be diagnosed with a CT scan or X-ray.

The exact cause has yet to be determined.

The white fungus affects not only the lungs, but also the “nails, stomach, skin, kidneys, brain, private parts, and mouth.

Chhattisgarh: Open theatre, lotus pond to be developed soon at Biodiversity Park in Durg district

by

Visitors atBiodiversity Parklocated in Talpuri ofDurgdistrict will soon have a mesmerizing glimpse of pond filled with lotuses and an open theatre right next to it besides enjoying relaxing and soothing sounds ofbirdschirping.

An open theatre will be developed in the park and arrangement of boating will be done in the pond besides developing the pond as a Lotus Pond.

The place is a magnificent wetland and will definitely make a better natural habitat for the regular birds and migratory birds. In future, this park will become the Home to birds like Paradise Fly Catcher, Greyhornbill and Whistling Ducks.

They propose a 3/5/10 year plan to invest in Biotechnology and health research. Experts say, to fight this Bio-war in the future, we must prepare right now. Second, Health SEZs should be given immediate NOD to develop 500 acres of Research & Development facilities in every state capital.

by

Thirdly, they urge the government to double the number of Government and Private medical colleges by 2024 so that the benefits will come by 2029 when doctors will start graduating from these colleges.

Gujarats green solution to tackle smoke pollution

by

Delhiites may soon enjoy clear wintry mornings without choking on smoggy air caused by rampant burning of stubble in farms across Punjab and Haryana. A Gujarat-based biotech firm has come up with multi-microbial consortia that will not only put a lid on the environmental mess, but also improve the quality as a bonus.

In India, rice, wheat, sugarcane and Cotton are prone to maximum crop residue. Stubble burning is often blamed not only for Air Pollution but also deteriorating Soil fertility. It is also a major source of greenhouse gases. If the state governments adopt microbial consortia, this problem can be dealt with effectively.

GLSL, a Biotechnology firm based in Vadodara, was established in 2000 with an aim to develop agro products that eco-friendly, cost effective and organic.