
Launch Spl sanitation drive to prevent outbreak of contagious diseases
In a teleconference held on Monday with constituency special officers, Mandal special officers, MPDOs, tahsildars, Municipal Commissioners, EO PRDs, CDPOs and other officials, the Collector emphasised the importance of strict sanitation measures during the monsoon season.
The Collector instructed officials to ensure regular garbage collection, proper drainage cleaning, fixing of drinking water pipeline leakages, and timely cleaning of overhead tanks in both rural and urban areas.
He cited negative feedback from IVRS regarding sanitation in villages such as Eruru (Chippagiri mandal), Kodumur-3 and Pyalakurthi (Kodumur mandal), Hebbatam (Holagunda), Chirtanakallu (Kosigi), Loddipalle (Orvakal), and Nolekal (Peddakadubur).
He questioned the MPDOs and EO PRDs on the lack of progress and directed special inspections and detailed reports from these locations. He warned that action would be taken against negligent staff.
Further, the Collector ordered Municipal Commissioners in Kurnool, Adoni, and Yemmiganur to carry out sanitation measures regularly and ensure cleanliness in public spaces and around government offices. Even though no malaria cases have been reported so far, sporadic cases of dengue and chikungunya have emerged.
The Collector stressed the need for fogging, drain cleaning, and implementation of 'dry days' as preventive steps. He enquired about dengue cases in C Belagal, Krishnagiri, and Kurnool mandals and instructed health officials to intensify monitoring and prevention of water and vector-borne diseases.
On other fronts, the Collector reviewed the progress of waste-to-wealth centres in Adoni, Devanakonda, Halaharvi, and Krishnagiri, urging MPDOs to expedite their completion and operation. In Alur mandal, only 9 out of 34 tanks (26%) had been cleaned, prompting the Collector to question the MPDO and the DPO for not taking action against negligent panchayat secretaries. He also emphasised timely and accurate updating of Bal Sanjeevani and Take Home Ration kit distributions on the POSHAN Tracker and Bal Sanjeevani app.
CDPOs of Adoni and Yemmiganur were specifically pulled up for delay in implementation, and were asked to conduct training for Anganwadi workers.
The Collector warned that lack of progress would lead to disciplinary action against the concerned officials.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
10 hours ago
- Mint
Centre asks states to reduce sugar, salt in school meals to counter obesity
New Delhi: Concerned over rising cases of child obesity in India, the Centre has asked states and Union territories to reduce added sugar, salt, preservatives, colors, and other synthetic ingredients in meals provided in government schools, and Anganwadi centres, an official aware of the matter said. An Anganwadi is a rural child-care centre, started by the government in 1975 and tasked with providing basic healthcare services in villages and combatting child hunger and malnutrition. The directive from the Women and Child Development ministry is aimed at tackling India's growing obesity, particularly among young children. The directive from the Union women and child development ministry assumes significance given that 118 million children get free lunches under the Mid-day Meal Scheme, or PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), while Anganwadi centres cater to around 106.9 million beneficiaries including young children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The government's instructions to lower the use of salt, sugar, and synthetic colours in food come in the backdrop of the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) stating that one in five Indian urban adults is overweight or obese. High consumption of sugar and salt can potentially lead to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. According to the 11 July letter issued by the women and child development ministry to all the states and Union territories, the Poshan Tracker portal data for May highlights that 6% of children under five years in Anganwadi centres are already overweight or obese. The letter emphasized promoting healthy lifestyles and dietary practices, with a specific focus on the Take Home Rations (THR) and Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) provided in Anganwadis. Mint has seen a copy of the letter. Children aged 0-6 years in 2021 numbered an estimated 161 million, and as per the October 2024 data of Poshan Tracker portal, 88.2 million children were enrolled in Anganwadis, the ministry of women and child development told parliament in December last year. The directive is part of India's fight against obesity that includes the Centre' plan to roll out a nationwide screening programme for measuring obesity among school children, which will capture waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and their Body Mass Index (BMI), as reported by Mint earlier. 'The government is very serious about obesity. Schools have put the oil and sugar board to sensitise children on what kind of food or snack they are consuming. Similarly, it has decided that meals provided under the POSHAN scheme to the beneficiaries in the government schools and Anganwadi centres must limit oil and sugar. This is also applicable for child care homes,' said the official cited eralier, requesting anonymity. The new advisory recommends that states and UTs conduct targeted awareness programs for officers, field functionaries, Anganwadi workers, and the broader community. A key focus of these programs should be to reduce the consumption of edible oils in daily diets, aligning with the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the National Institute of Nutrition. The WCD ministry also suggested the state governments initiating awareness campaigns at all levels to reinforce the objectives of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). Queries sent to the women and child development ministry spokesperson remained unanswered till press time. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former director general at Indian Council of Medical Research and ex-chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, said that the main driver of both obesity and under-nutrition is the lack of affordable access to a healthy and nutritious diet, along with lack of awareness about nutritional requirements at different ages. 'Nutrition literacy is very low, with the majority of the population having misconceptions about what is healthy and what is not. We have also lost a great deal of our agro biodiversity over the past few decades and ultra-processed food is replacing freshly cooked balanced meals. Looking ahead, with climate change being an additional risk to food systems, we need to look at the entire value chain - from greater production of healthier cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables to ensuring greater dietary diversity in our social safety net programs such asPublic Distribution System (PDS), school meals, PM Poshan Abhiyan,' she said. Dr. Swaminathan also pointed out that budget allocations to these schemes will need to increase to enable better dietary diversity. Dr. Mohsin Wali, a senior consultant in medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, points out a troubling trend: a significant portion of the population—between 20% and 30%—don't even perceive being overweight or obese as a problem. They simply see it as normal, he said. Covid-19 pandemic has worsened this issue, increasing obesity by at least 7%. 'The shift to work from home, coupled with increased consumption of foods high in oil and sugar, has played a major role. Controlling obesity is impossible without regular exercise, yoga, and workouts," he added. He also highlights the rise of "cloud kitchens," which are popular with children but often offer food high in trans fats. Adding to the concern, schools have cut back on outdoor activities, and children are increasingly glued to screens, leading to a decline in physical activity. 'Rise in stress levels among both children and adults also contribute to a dangerous cycle, as obesity is directly linked to serious health problems like diabetes, increased cardiovascular risk, sudden cardiac deaths, and fatty liver disease,' he said while referring to this cluster of conditions as "metabolic syndrome." Dr. Wali warns that if this trend isn't brought under control, the current generation of children will face a future of widespread obesity and its associated health crises as adults.


Hans India
20 hours ago
- Hans India
Launch Spl sanitation drive to prevent outbreak of contagious diseases
Kurnool: District Collector P Ranjit Basha has directed officials to launch a special sanitation drive across Kurnool to prevent the outbreak of seasonal and contagious diseases. In a teleconference held on Monday with constituency special officers, Mandal special officers, MPDOs, tahsildars, Municipal Commissioners, EO PRDs, CDPOs and other officials, the Collector emphasised the importance of strict sanitation measures during the monsoon season. The Collector instructed officials to ensure regular garbage collection, proper drainage cleaning, fixing of drinking water pipeline leakages, and timely cleaning of overhead tanks in both rural and urban areas. He cited negative feedback from IVRS regarding sanitation in villages such as Eruru (Chippagiri mandal), Kodumur-3 and Pyalakurthi (Kodumur mandal), Hebbatam (Holagunda), Chirtanakallu (Kosigi), Loddipalle (Orvakal), and Nolekal (Peddakadubur). He questioned the MPDOs and EO PRDs on the lack of progress and directed special inspections and detailed reports from these locations. He warned that action would be taken against negligent staff. Further, the Collector ordered Municipal Commissioners in Kurnool, Adoni, and Yemmiganur to carry out sanitation measures regularly and ensure cleanliness in public spaces and around government offices. Even though no malaria cases have been reported so far, sporadic cases of dengue and chikungunya have emerged. The Collector stressed the need for fogging, drain cleaning, and implementation of 'dry days' as preventive steps. He enquired about dengue cases in C Belagal, Krishnagiri, and Kurnool mandals and instructed health officials to intensify monitoring and prevention of water and vector-borne diseases. On other fronts, the Collector reviewed the progress of waste-to-wealth centres in Adoni, Devanakonda, Halaharvi, and Krishnagiri, urging MPDOs to expedite their completion and operation. In Alur mandal, only 9 out of 34 tanks (26%) had been cleaned, prompting the Collector to question the MPDO and the DPO for not taking action against negligent panchayat secretaries. He also emphasised timely and accurate updating of Bal Sanjeevani and Take Home Ration kit distributions on the POSHAN Tracker and Bal Sanjeevani app. CDPOs of Adoni and Yemmiganur were specifically pulled up for delay in implementation, and were asked to conduct training for Anganwadi workers. The Collector warned that lack of progress would lead to disciplinary action against the concerned officials.


News18
a day ago
- News18
How Many Calories Do 100 Grams Of Samosa And Jalebi Have?
Last Updated: Obesity and lifestyle diseases are creeping in at younger ages, fuelled by exactly the kind of diet that puts samosa and jalebi at the centre If jalebis and samosas are your go-to evening snack, health experts now want you to pause and think again. What used to be comfort food has been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and the comparisons being drawn are as sharp as they are surprising. Samosa and jalebi are today's cigarettes, warn nutritionists and public health officials alike. The phrase may sound dramatic, but here's what's backing it up. According to dietitian Mukta Vashisht, both jalebi and samosa are 'calorie bombs". A single 100-gram serving of jalebi packs around 356 calories, made up almost entirely of refined flour, sugar, and oil. The sweetness might feel comforting, she says, but it wreaks havoc on blood sugar levels and can lead to rapid weight gain. Samosas, despite their savory appeal, aren't any better. In fact, they may be slightly worse. That same 100-gram portion contains about 362 calories, filled with deep-fried oil, spiced potatoes, and maida. Not only does this spike carbohydrate and fat intake, but repeated frying, often with reheated oil, introduces trans fats that increase the risk of heart disease. Here's the bigger issue: both of these snacks, consumed regularly, are strongly linked to a higher risk of diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. And now, their impact is being taken seriously at the policy level, especially when it comes to children. Government Cracks Down On Childhood Obesity News18 has accessed an advisory from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which raises serious concerns about the early signs of lifestyle diseases in children. As per fresh data from the government's Poshan Tracker (May 2025), 6% of children under five enrolled in Anganwadi centres are already overweight or obese. That's a red flag. In response, the ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to take urgent steps to reshape food and lifestyle habits in young children. The advisory emphasises cutting down on visible fat (not more than 27–30 grams of oil per day), limiting saturated fat to under 10% of total energy intake, and most importantly, completely avoiding trans fats, which are found in vanaspati, margarine, bakery goods, and street snacks like samosas. The advisory goes further, warning against reheated oil, which many vendors use repeatedly. This practice creates harmful oxidative compounds that raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Instead, the ministry recommends filtering used oil for limited reuse in curries only, not for frying again. Street Food Culture Under Scrutiny What this really means is that everyday snacks like samosas and jalebis are no longer just an indulgence. They're being flagged as part of a larger public health threat. Viral posts and videos on social media have already started calling them the 'new age cigarettes", highlighting how these foods silently damage the body when eaten regularly. And that message is starting to stick. The government has now called for 'Oil and Sugar" awareness boards at Anganwadi centres and public institutions, pushing visual reminders of how much is too much. Health messages around hidden fats and sugars are also being integrated into official stationery and public communication material. Even frontline workers are being nudged to model better behaviour, choosing fruit-based snacks and moving around more during the workday. This push is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'fitter and healthier India", and the strategy is to shift focus from fried and sugary foods toward boiled chana, fruits, and low-oil homemade snacks. India's love for its street food is deep-rooted. But the data is now impossible to ignore. Obesity and lifestyle diseases are creeping in at younger ages, fuelled by exactly the kind of diet that puts samosa and jalebi at the centre. So no, no one's saying you can't enjoy them ever again. But what experts and policymakers are urging is restraint. Eat them occasionally, not daily. Don't reuse oil. Avoid hidden sugars and fats in everyday meals. And above all, rethink what we normalise as 'harmless" treats. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.