Showing posts with label Hindi ePaper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hindi ePaper. Show all posts

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Kerala diaspora voters can register online

"Anyone sitting anywhere in the world in front of a computer that has internet facility can log on to www.ceo.kerala.gov.in and carry out their online registration," Chief Election Commissioner Nalini Netto told reporters here.

"Once done, a registration number will be sent through an SMS. Once the application is processed, the result of it would also be intimated through an SMS," Netto said.

"The voters can indicate their preference if they wish to receive the elector photo identity card through post. All non-resident Keralites, whose name did not figure in the electoral list, can avail the service...," Netto added.

She said the non-resident people's names will appear under the NRI category in the electoral list and if they are in the state when a poll is taking place they can cast their votes.

The Chief Election Commissioner said the latest online registration of voters list begins November 1 and it will continue till November 25.

“This revision of the electoral list is an annual affair,” she said.

"We are planning to appoint campus ambassadors to promote awareness about this enrolment on all the college campuses," said Netto.

According to a recent study, the number of emigrants in 2014 from Kerala is 23.63 lakh.

The figure was 22.81 lakh in 2011, 21.93 lakh in 2008, 18.38 lakh in 2003 and 13.62 lakh in 1998.

The study also showed that 90 percent of the state diaspora lives in Middle East countries.

 

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

After wrapping up KBC, Big B focuses on movies

The 72-year-old is currently shooting for three projects 'Shamitabh', 'Piku' and 'Wazir'.

Director R Balakrishnan, fondly called Balki, is helming 'Shamitabh' that also features Dhanush and marks the Bollywood debut of southern superstar actor Kamal Haasan's daughter Akshara.

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar's 'Piku' will see Amitabh along with Deepika Padukone and Irrfan, while 'Wazir' is Bejoy Nambiar's directorial venture, which is written and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

The film also stars Farhan Akhtar and Aditi Rao Hyadri. "KBC over shall mean greater concentration on the films on hand .. with 'Shamitabh' and 'Piku' and 'Wazir' the Vinod Chopra produced Bijoy Nambiar directed film on the floors now…," he said in his blog post.

"All to be released by the year of 2015...and I await the verdict, as do many that are involved in it, when it shall reach the masses... the masses ... the final answer, the final question, the final outcome..." he wrote.

The grand finale episode of the eighth edition of KBC will be aired on November 9 on Sony Entertainment Television.

 

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Part of Rajkumar Hirani's bungalow turned into an editing studio

Earlier, Hirani used edit all his films at Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s office in Santa Cruz. A source said, “He recently bought a bungalow in Goregaon and has modified one of the rooms into an editing and dubbing studio. It is convenient as he does not have to go out of his house for the editing.”

Another source said when Hirani shoots in Film City Studios, also in Goregaon, he prefers to do the editing work at his place.

“But if he is in Santa Cruz, he works out of Chopra’s office like he used to earlier. It suits Aamir, too, as he drops by Raju’s house for the dubbing after completing his shoot schedules in Film City,” added the source.

Hirani’s spokesperson confirmed the story. Apart from Aamir, 'PK' stars Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput.

 

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How Hrithik strategically dodged Sussanne in Goa

The actor, who is currently nursing an injured shoulder, was seen playing with his children, Hrehaan and Hridhaan.

A source said, "Sussanne celebrated her birthday with her family and kids. They were all in Goa since Diwali for a family get-together. But she left for Mumbai on Sunday night with her sister, Farah Khan Ali. It was only the next morning that Hrithik flew in to be with the kids."

The couple's sons had stayed back with Sussanne's brother, Zayed Khan and his family, the source added.

Hrithik is said to maintain cordial relations with his former in-laws even after his 14-year-old marriage fell apart. The divorce is expected to come through by the end of this month. Hrithik Roshan remained unavailable for comment.

 

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Big B, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan to come under one roof

"Our entire Kannada film fraternity will be joining hands for this programme. We've sent invitations to Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, Mammootty and Mohanlal. All of them are expected to attend the opening ceremony," HD Gangaraju, president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, said

Touted to be one of the biggest events in Kannada industry, the memorial which includes a three-foot bronze statue of Rajkumar with an exhibition of photographs will be opened to public as well.

"The memorial is located on the premises of Kanteerava Studio. Members of Rajkumar Pratisthana will be supervising all activities related to the ceremonial programme. An 800-seater auditorium will also be part of the memorial," he said.

According to reports, a whopping Rs 7 crore has been spent on the memorial.

 

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'Rang Rasiya' team to inspire people for eye donations

The team is taking the initiative on November 1 at PVR Ambience Mall in Gurgaon in aid of Mahindru Foundation, which is dedicated to eradication of curable blindness.

They are 'proud' to be associated with the cause. The 'Rang Rasiya' team aims to raise funds for two upcoming eye banks one in association with Lotus Eye Hospital, Mumbai and another in association with Bhuvneshwari Madharai's Ashram, Rishikesh.

To promote the cause and encourage others to pledge their eyes, the team of the film including Randeep Hooda, Nandana Sen, director Ketan Mehta and producers Deepa Sahi and Aanand Mahendroo, the singers and associates will also support this noble cause by pledging their eyes, read a statement.

Alongside the special screening of 'Rang Rasiya', a special musical concert featuring Sunidhi Chauhan, Kailash Kher and Sufi folk singers from Rajasthan will also be held at 'The Leela', Gurgaon to support the cause.

'Rang Rasiya' is based on the life and times of 19th century painter Raja Ravi Verma.

 

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People spend Rs 8k cr on attestation; Govt for self-validation

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has asked the Central Government ministries to review the existing requirements of affidavits and attested copy by Gazetted officers in various forms in a phased-manner and wherever possible, make provision of self-certification of documents and abolition of affidavits.
  
"Some ministries have adopted the provision of self-certification of documents such as mark sheet, birth certificate, etc by the applicants or stakeholders. Under the self attestation method, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage," it said in a letter.
  
The DoPT said the self-certification of documents is "citizen friendly" as making affidavits cost money to the poor and involves wastage of time of the citizens as well as of the government officials.
  
The state governments have also been asked to review the existing requirements of affidavits and attested copy of Gazetted officers in various forms in the departments and boards, corporations and field offices in a phased manner and wherever possible, make provision of self-certification of documents and abolition of affidavits.
  
"Affidavits impose their own cost on the citizens—buying stamp paper, locating a deed writer, payment to the Notary for attestation and, of course, the time and efforts consumed in these processes. On the other hand, affidavits have no particular sanctity in law and the same function can be easily performed by declarations," according to a background note on 'reforming public service delivery systems in India' made by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
  
In Punjab alone, it is estimated that at least half the households file affidavits annually for one service or the other.
  
"Extrapolating this figure to India, the total number may be more than 20 crore citizens or affidavits and assuming a cost of Rs 400 per affidavit (one day wages plus stamps, fees and charges), the total expenses incurred by the citizens in India could well be to the extent of Rs 8,000 crores approximately," the note said.

Affidavits, therefore, need to be replaced by self-declarations for all services in the public utilities or agencies.

Affidavit is a declaration, and such, a declaration in itself is adequate for the purposes of law.

Attestation by the officials, thus, does not appear to be necessary. The applicant or signatory continues to be responsible for the statement made, it said.

"One advantage that the public agencies have is that they can also impose penal liability for making wrong statements in terms of suspension of the services (suspension of ration card facilities, disconnection of power supply),”  the DoPT said
  
"This practise of self declaration needs to be adopted in place of affidavits. This will save a lot of bother and sizable expenses in the citizen having to procure stamps or stamp paper which is mostly not available at the place where the affidavit is to be submitted. Some of the central government agencies (passport, income tax) have already adopted this practise,” it added..
  
The Ministry also cited various penal sections of law to check false information or declaration by an individual.
  
"There appears to be no legal problem in adopting this (self-certification) practise. The Indian Penal Code contains a number of Sections such as 177, 193, 197, 198, 199 and 200,” it said.

“These Sections specifically deal with the implications of any false information, evidence, disclosure or declaration made by the deponents and, any such instances have been included to be subjected to the imposition of penalties, fines, registration of criminal cases and even imprisonment," it further added..
  
The affidavits are required in support of facts given by the applicants for issue of various certificates, (residence etc.). Affidavits are affirmations by the applicants (supported in some cases by third parties).
  
"Historically, governance has been a prisoner of the colonial non-faith citizen-government exchange. The interaction of the state vis-a-vis the citizens continues to remain divergent, even antagonistic, in terms of realization of the claims, entitlements and the basic rights," the note said seeking to replace affidavits with self-certification.

 

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Congress welcomes SC directive on foreign account holders

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Central government to furnish, in a sealed cover by Wednesday, the names of all Indian foreign account holders. Congress general secretary Ajay Maken said the court had come down heavily on the Modi government.

"The direction of the Supreme Court has vindicated the stand being articulated by the Congress ever since the government started playing this convoluted game of partial and selective leak of names," Maken said.

He said the government's "double speak" on the matter has been exposed in the two affidavits it had given in the court.Maken said that in the affidavit of October 17, the government had told the court that it was unable to disclose the names since it was bound by the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements.

He said the government revised its stand in the affidavit of Oct 27 "with the sole purpose of hoodwinking the court"."However, the court today rejected all of such devious attempts and it was a welcome step," he said.

Maken accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and Modi of misleading the people.

He claimed the BJP leaders had promised not only to disclose the names but also bring back to the country all the black money stashed abroad within 100 days.

"While Baba Ramdev had the put the number of such account holders at 50,000 and pegged the amount stashed away at Rs 4 lakh crores, Rajnath Singh had promised to bring back the same within 100 days," he said.

He said the BJP leaders also promised to distribute the black money among the people of the country.

A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Madan B  Lokur on Tuesday told Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the government need not do anything but just disclose the names to the court and it will decide whether the matter should be investigated by the income tax authorities or by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

 

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Rahul directs elimination of bogus members in Congress

The Congress Vice President wanted the party polls to be "free, fair and transperent" and sought utilisation of the opportunity to "reinvigorate and rejuvenate" the organisation.

Gandhi said full powers have been given to the party's Central Election Authority (CEA), headed by senior leader Mullappally Ramachandran, so as to make the exercise truly effective.

He was speaking at a meeting of AICC General Secretaries and PCC Chiefs on the organisational polls, his first formal interaction with top party leaders here after the defeat of Congress in Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana.

Organisational polls in the past have often been marred by accusations of bogus members. Central leaders of the party now say that there are least chances of bogus membership in view of new safeguards, including photo identity cards.

Ramachandran, a former Union Minister, has claimed that Congress will have a "100 per cent transparent" organisational elections this time.

Party General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said that this would be the first organisational polls after Congress amended its constitution in the Burari session in 2010 for party polls after five years instead of three years in practice earlier.

Dwivedi said that the PCC Chiefs who also attended the meeting along with AICC General Secretaries were told that the tentative schedule for the party polls released by the AICC would be followed.

The schedule says that the membership drive will be concluded by December 31 and the New Year would see conduct of polls from the block level to that of AICC members. The election of Congress President is scheduled in July.

Sonia Gandhi holds the record of having the longest tenure as the Chief of the party which was founded way back in 1885. She is at the helm since March 1998.

The organisational elections will not have a vote for the post of the Congress Vice President as there is no such post under the party constitution. Earlier, late leaders Arjun Singh and Jitendra Prasada had been party Vice Presidents while the late Kamlapati Tripathi was the party Working President.

 

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Vietnamese PM's visit will strengthen ties: President

During their interaction, when the President met Dung Tuesday,  Mukherjee said he was delighted to welcome Dung on his second state visit to India.

The visit will open up new areas of mutual assistance, cooperation and collaboration between the two countries, Mukherjee said, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.

Adding that he was pleased with his visit to Vietnam last Month, Mukherjee hoped that Dung's visit to the holy town of Bodh Gaya and the Mahabodhi temple was successful.

Mukherjee said, "Buddhism symbolises the shared cultural heritage of the peoples of India and Vietnam."

"The Vietnamese prime minister warmly reciprocated the president's sentiments and said Vietnam was keen to work with India in taking the relationship to greater heights," the statement added. Dung, who is on a two-day official visit to India, reached Bodh Gaya in Bihar Monday.

 

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Jung meets Rajnath, will discuss govt formation with parties

Sources said the LG conveyed to the Home Minister that he will call all political parties to explore possibilities of forming a government in Delhi, which is under President's rule since February 17 after resignation of AAP government.
  
The Centre had on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that President Pranab Mukherjee has accepted an LG proposal that BJP be asked to form the government.
  
The meeting lasted nearly 30 minutes, the sources said.       

Rapping the Centre and the LG over the delay, the court had said that in a democracy President's Rule cannot go on forever and questioned why the authorities failed to act expeditiously.
  
Presently, BJP, along with ally Akali Dal's lone MLA, has 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MLAs to prove majority in the assembly in its current strength of 67 if it decides to form the government.
  
The total strength of the Delhi Assembly is 70 with three vacancies which are to be filled in bye elections late next month.
  
AAP had formed the government in Delhi with the support of Congress. The government led by Kejriwal had resigned on 14 February after the party's pet project, the Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress. President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17.
  
Jung had not favoured dissolution of the Delhi assembly as recommended by the council of ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the assembly in suspended animation.


AAP cries foul

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has targeted Jung for dilly-dallying in government formation in the national capital, with party convenor Arvind Kejriwal even branding the Lt Governor as a BJP agent.

Kejriwal in several interviews with private TV channels has alleged that Jung is working like an agent of the BJP.

AAP leader and former journalist Ashutosh also questioned why Jung wants to hold a chat with all parties when he knows views of all of them concerned on elections.

He further questioned that why did Jung came out of his slumber after a slap on the wrist from the Supreme Court.

“Why LG wants to hold a chat with all parties when he knows views of all of them concerned on elections ?And why now when SC has criticised ?” Ashutosh tweeted on Wednesday morning.

Ashutosh claimed that elections are the only alternative left now for government formation in the capital, alleging that the BJP is running scared of elections.

“A big farce will again be played on the people of Delhi ? Elections are the only alternative and fact is BJP DOES NOT Want TO FACE PEOPLE,” said another tweet by Ashutosh.

Congress accuses Jung of helping BJP to poach MLAs

The Congress on Tuesday had slammed Jung for the delay in taking a decision on government formation in Delhi, accusing him of giving enough time to BJP to poach MLAs from other parties.

The party had also disapproved of BJP's bid to form a government in the national capital saying the latter does not have a majority in the Delhi Assembly.

"That is what we were asking for that the LG should take a decision. In order to please his masters at the Centre—Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team--he (Jung) was resorting to delaying tactics to give the BJP enough time and opportunity to poach MLAs of other parties," AICC general secretary in-charge for Delhi Shakeel Ahmed said.

 

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Modi glad with 'wonderful' response to his radio address

"Have been going through the wonderful comments, ideas & good governance examples received for 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme on November 2. It is very gladdening to read views on diverse range of issues, rich insights & interesting anecdotes shared by all of you,” said Modi.
  
"Do keep sharing your ideas on the MyGov Open Forum. I will read them & share some of them during the Radio programme," he tweeted on Wednesday, adding he read several thoughts on Swachh Bharat mission, agriculture, irrigation issues, empowerment of women and skilled India.
  
Modi has invited people to share their thoughts, comments and examples of good governance initiatives that have left an impression on their mind ahead of the broadcast of the programme on November 2.
  
He had first used the medium of radio on October 3 to reach out to the maximum populace.
  
Modi had then given a a pep talk on shedding despondency and use of skills for the country's betterment and prosperity.
  
He had promised to make the radio broadcast a regular affair and invited ideas from citizens while noting that he was encouraged by the number of suggestions he had received since it was announced that he would be addressing the nation over radio.

 

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All foreign bank accounts will be assessed by March 2015: Attorney General

He said that the court directed that the sealed envelope with the names be given to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and also allowed the Centre to put its "problems regarding treaties with foreign nations" before the SIT.

"After that we shall request them to submit the report in the court by November 30," the AG said.

"There are about 627-628 accounts along with a status report which we have submitted in the Supreme Court today in a sealed cover. Last date for investigation and assessment into all these accounts is March 31, 2015.

"The court after hearing both sides, did not open the cover but directed that the sealed envelope be given to the SIT itself. The SIT will thereafter see what it has to do and proceed in accordance with law," Rohatgi said.

Speaking to the media immediately after the hearing, the AG also said that this same list had been submitted to the SIT in June earlier this year.

"The apex court has asked SIT to verify the list given by the government and carry on with probe in accordance with law," he said, adding, "The court has permitted us to place our problems regarding treaties with foreign nations before the SIT".

 

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LPG rate hiked by Rs 3 per cylinder

The commission paid to dealers was last week hiked by Rs 3 per 14.2-kg cylinder to Rs 43.71. Consequently, retail selling price of subsidised LPG too have been increased in the same proportion, officials said.
  
Dealers' commission was last revised in December 2013 when it was hiked by Rs 3.46 per cylinder to Rs 40.71.
  
The increase in commission — which as per practice is passed on to consumers — has been effected from October 23.
  
Subsidised LPG in Delhi now costs Rs 417 per 14.2-kg cylinder as against Rs 414 previously.

  
In Mumbai, subsidised LPG will cost Rs 452 per 14.2-kg cylinder as against Rs 448.50 previously.
  
Prior to the December hike in LPG rates, price of cooking gas was raised in October 2012 when because of an increase in dealers' commission the rates were raised from Rs 399 per cylinder to Rs 410.50.
  
Dealers' commission has also resulted in the rate of non-subsidised LPG, which a consumer buys after consuming his quota of 12 cylinders at below-market rates, being hiked to Rs 883.50 per 14.2-kg bottle from Rs 880 previously.
  
The decision will benefit 13,896 LPG distributors across the country.

 

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Proposal to legalise prostitution to be placed before SC panel: NCW

"The proposal for legalising prostitution will be put forth in the National Consultation scheduled to be held on Nov 8 by Supreme Court panel," NCW said in a statement.The apex court had constituted the panel after a public interest litigation was filed 2010 on the rehabilitation of sex workers. Further in its order dated Aug 24, 2011, the court had directed NCW to attend the meetings of the panel.

"The panel has to make certain recommendations for the possible amendments in Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 [ITPA] in the light of conditions conducive for sex workers to live with dignity in accordance with the provision of Article 21 of the Constitution," added the statement.

The Supreme Court constituted panel would deliberate on the existing provisions of ITPA, loopholes, implementation of the law and the impact of such implementation on the sex workers and their lives. She denied media report that she was planning to put forward the proposal of legalising prostitution at the Cabinet meet.

 

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Month-long Winter Session to commence on 24th November

The month-long session will have a total of 22 sittings in which four days have been earmarked for Private Members' business.

A total of 67 bills 59 in Rajya Sabha and eight in Lok Sabha are pending and the government will push for passage of "at least 30 to 35" legislations, a senior minister said.

This will be the second major session since the Narendra Modi Government took over in May.

The long wait for finalisation of seating arrangement in Lok Sabha is expected to be over before the session commences, almost six months after the constitution of the new House.

"We expect the arrangement to be in place before the winter session," said an official at Parliament over the exercise which has dragged on after the declaration of the results of the 16th Lok Sabha polls on May 16.

Average number of sittings in the past five Winter sessions has been 22 and the dates were decided based on precedents, source said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Anant Kumar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu are members of the Committee.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Ministers of state for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar and Santosh Gangwar are special invitees to the Committee.

 

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After favoring coalition, Shiv Sena praises Narendra Modi

The Sena had on Monday spoken openly in favor of a BJP-led coalition government for the first time and today it showered praises on Modi for changing the cultural face of the country.

"Prime Minister Modi has changed the cultural face of India after coming to power. This is commendable. Until Monday only Iftar parties were being held by leaders during the Eid festival, today Diwali is being celebrated as well. This is an important change," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Notably, the editorial is in stark contrast to an article published in 'Saamana' earlier this month, when the Sena had accused the BJP of not recognizing the party (Sena) after winning the state Assembly elections.

However, softening its stand, the Sena had yesterday said, "If Shiv Sena and BJP come together to form a government it will be stable. Our ties with BJP are very old. Whatever happened during the elections we have forgotten."

The party praised the Prime Minister saying that, "Modi used the occasion (the high tea organized for NDA MPs on Sunday) to put forward his schemes for the development of the poor. He asked all the MPs to work for the benefit of common man. Whatever he said was true."

"Lakhs of crores have been spent on development schemes, but nothing substantial has been done by the previous governments in the last 50 years. The new government should now find out where did all that money go and whom did it benefit," the editorial stated.

Shiv Sena alleged that the Congress government indulged in Iftar parties only to appease the minority community to use it for vote bank politics.

"The Congress used to celebrate Eid as if it was a national festival. That was less of love for the Muslims and more of vote bank and appeasement politics. The era of vote bank politics has ended now and Modi will change the face of the culture of this country," it said.

 

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IMA in Kerala to draw up plan to tackle viral diseases

"The programme is envisaged to help medical fraternity in the state to stay updated on the emerging and re-emerging viral diseases and equip them to face emergencies," IMA's Kerala chapter members said. “The scientific session of the 57th state conference of IMA Kerala, scheduled to be held here from November 7 to 9, will discuss the matter and set a framework of the programme”, IMA Kerala secretary A V Jayakrishnan said.

"We are planning a comprehensive training and awareness programme which will give doctors a clear picture about the threat of various emerging and re-emerging viral diseases. It will also make them equip to tackle such diseases during the time of emergencies," Jayakrishnan told.
  
“Renowned virologist, Dr Robert Gallo will be leading the discussions in this regard during the annual conference,” he said."Our doctors may have only a vague picture about many new viral diseases as they do not have a first-hand knowledge about them. Infections like Ebola may have originated and spread in other parts of the globe. But, we can not dismiss chances of its outbreak anywhere," he added.
  
Though Kerala is far ahead in terms of treatment of viral diseases, a better system should be evolved to detect the diseases at the entry point itself, he said."The treatment facility and health standards in the state is of high standard,but we should work on the early detection and prevention of such outbreaks at the entry point itself, inter-department co-ordination of various government agencies along with the health department is inevitable for it," Jayakrishnan added.

 

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Villagers script social success in 'backward' Koraput

Eleven villages of Koraput and Semiliguda blocks in Odisha's Koraput district with a total of 522 households have become open defecation free (ODF) as the villagers have started using 'pucca' toilets constructed at their houses.

"All the 96 families of our village have toilets and open defecation is a matter of the past. Villagers, mostly tribals, use their toilets and there is strict prohibition on open defecation," said Kamala Jani, an elderly woman of Chandramundar village, 60 km from here, in Koraput block.

Along with Chandramundar, Chakarliguda, Khaparaput, Gandhiput, Station Suku, Maluguda and Haldiput of Koraput block and Bandguda, Doraguda, Jagamput and Sadam of Semiluguda block have become ODF.

It was not easy to inculcate the toilet culture in the villagers as they were habituated to defecating in the open. It took a series of awareness camps by the district administration to make the villagers conscious about ill-effects of open defecation.

"When we approached the villagers to construct individual toilets at their home their response was negative. The villagers were reluctant to construct toilets," said Debasish Patnaik, coordinator of district water and sanitary mission (DWSM), Koraput.

"We were determined and made the villagers realize the ill-effects of open defecation through a string of street plays, posters and pictorial presentations," he added.

Once the villagers understood how they are suffering from various diseases like diarrhea and malaria due to defecating in the open, they gradually followed our advice, Patnaik said.

 

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Public Health Protection Agency in Kerala

Inaugurating a national symposium on 'Public Health Intervention' The Need for Convergence' here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government was in the early stages of formulating the initiative 'Public Health Protection Agency' which primarily aims at bringing convergent actions to address the public health challenges of the state. Though Kerala had made remarkable achievements in health sector, the public health in the state was facing so many challenges, he said.

"In spite of large scale intervention, epidemics during the monsoon season are a regular feature which have increased in recent years", Chandy pointed out. Among the communicable diseases, vector-borne diseases like dengue fever, chickungunya, malaria along with leptospirosis are becoming a major health concern for the state, he said. Occasional outbreak of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, hepatitis, and enteric fever are also creating problems, he said.
  
Due to better global connections of the state, many newer emerging diseases and preparedness for managing these are also challenge for the state, he said. Re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases and health issues due to large scale migration of labourers from other states are the new hurdles, the Chief Minister said.

In addition to the communicable disease burden, high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, mental health disorders, elderly population, road accidents make the health situation in Kerala more complex, he added. The issues faced by the sector on a long-term basis and in a sustainable manner, convergence of activities of various departments and inter-sectoral coordination was very important, he said, adding, the new initiative was to address these challenges.

 

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