Latest news with #JanBhagidari
Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Officials told to prioritise early detection for TB elimination
Vijayawada: Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Wednesday emphasised that early identification and prompt treatment are crucial to achieving the national goal of Tuberculosis (TB) elimination. During a meeting at Raj Bhavan, state and Central government officials presented an overview of the 'TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' (TB-Free India Campaign) implementation in Andhra Pradesh to the Governor. Governor Abdul Nazeer underscored the importance of strengthening community engagement through 'Jan Bhagidari' (people's participation) activities. He also stressed the need for inter-departmental convergence to ensure the effective eradication of TB across the state. Demonstrating his commitment to the initiative, the Governor registered his name on the Ni-kshay portal, receiving an ID card from the officials present. Dr Bhawani Singh Kushwaha, TB officer, CTD; Dr D Dharma Rao, national consultant (Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative) and Dr T Ramesh, joint director, TB, briefed the Governor on the comprehensive steps being undertaken for the successful implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in the state. Following the briefing, Dr M Hari Jawaharlal, ex officio secretary to the Governor, handed over a cheque of Rs 84,000 to the officials. This amount, provided on behalf of the Governor, is earmarked for the distribution of nutrition baskets to 20 TB patients, aiming to support their recovery and well-being. P S Suryaprakash, joint secretary to Governor; Gangadhar Das, public health specialist, CTD; Dr Bhanu Naik, DLAT officer, NTR district; Dr T Dheeraj, WHO consultant; and Dr V Jaswanth Kumar, MO, TB-HIV also participated.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Chandigarh administration to train 1,600 civil defence volunteers for emergency, disaster preparedness
A total of 1,600 volunteers will be trained in multiple batches for emergency and disaster preparedness by the Chandigarh Administration at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Chandigarh, from June 21. Under an extensive civil defence volunteer training programme, the initiative — a collaborative effort with the Department of Civil Defence — aims to create a technically trained and responsive volunteer force capable of assisting during emergencies ranging from natural disasters and pandemics to war-like situations and other critical incidents, an official of the administration said. The training will be formally inaugurated by the Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. The six-day training sessions, conducted in four structured batches, have been carefully curated by expert faculty to include both theoretical learning and practical field experience. Volunteers will receive in-depth exposure to key aspects of disaster management, including risk mitigation strategies, search and rescue operations, evacuation techniques, first aid and triage, emergency communication, fire safety, and shelter management. What sets this initiative apart is its emphasis on realism and action-based learning. Simulated disaster environments will be created where volunteers will engage in mock drills replicating real-life crisis situations such as building collapses, fire outbreaks, and mass casualty events. These immersive exercises are designed to build confidence, enhance decision-making under pressure, and improve coordination with professional emergency responders. The training will also focus on psychological first aid and crowd management — skills that are vital during large-scale emergencies when public distress is high and timely intervention is critical. A significant component of the programme includes a field visit to Chandimandir Cantonment, offering volunteers a unique opportunity to interact with defence personnel and gain firsthand insights into military preparedness and civil-military coordination. This visit is expected to deepen their understanding of strategic response mechanisms in wartime scenarios and reinforce the importance of disciplined, coordinated action during crises. The training programme reflects the broader national vision of Jan Bhagidari, or public participation, promoted by the Government of India. 'By empowering citizens to act as community first responders, the administration is fostering a sense of collective responsibility and equipping the public with essential life-saving skills. The volunteers trained through this initiative will serve as a critical support system for the administration, particularly during the initial hours of any emergency, when immediate professional help may be limited or delayed,' the official added. Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh Nishant Kumar Yadav has underlined the importance of building a prepared civilian task force to support government efforts during disasters. 'Having a well-trained team of civil defence volunteers can significantly improve the city's capacity to manage crises effectively, ensure timely relief, and reduce casualties. Such programmes not only strengthen institutional preparedness but also promote a culture of awareness, readiness, and resilience among citizens,' Yadav added.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Assam's 'Gaja Mitra' to help curb human-elephant conflict
Guwahati: In a move to curb the escalating human-elephant conflict in Assam, authorities have launched 'Gaja Mitra', a dedicated initiative aimed at protecting both local communities and the state's majestic elephants. The programme is being rolled out across five of the most affected districts -- Goalpara, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Nagaon -- where frequent elephant incursions have led to crop damage, property loss, and sometimes, tragic human and animal fatalities. The Gaja Mitra initiative takes a multi-pronged approach. One of its core strategies is ecological, focusing on the creation of greener, more hospitable forests to ensure elephants have ample food and migratory corridors within the wild. By restoring natural habitats, officials hope to reduce the need for elephants to venture into human settlements in search of food. Technology, too, plays a key role. AI-powered camera traps have been deployed as silent sentinels throughout the forests, capable of detecting elephant movement and sending real-time alerts to nearby villages. This smart surveillance system aims to provide communities with enough time to prepare, react, or evacuate if necessary, reducing the risk of surprise encounters. To protect livelihoods, Gaja Mitra also emphasises 'Protecting Paddy' by enhancing the procurement of crops in high-risk areas. This ensures that farmers do not bear the financial brunt when elephants forage through their fields. Additionally, trained Gaja Mitra teams -- comprising local volunteers -- will act as community liaisons. These teams will raise awareness, respond to alerts, and serve as vital links between forest departments and villagers, embodying the spirit of Jan Bhagidari, or people's participation. With a blend of ecology, technology, and community engagement, Gaja Mitra signals a compassionate shift in conservation, where coexistence, not conflict, takes centre stage. Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary recently said that more than 70 people and 80 jumbos on average die every year in human-elephant conflict in the state. According to an official, when more people occupy the elephants' natural habitats, the animals are forced to leave their homes in search of food, which results in confrontation with people. He said there are currently more than 5,700 elephants living in the state.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Government remains committed to realising the vision of TB-free India: PM Modi
In the meeting, he reviewed the recently concluded 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, covering high-focus districts where 12.97 crore vulnerable individuals were screened; 7.19 lakh TB cases detected, including 2.85 lakh asymptomatic TB cases. Over one lakh new Ni-kshay Mitras joined the effort during the campaign, which has been a model for Jan Bhagidari that can be accelerated and scaled across the country to drive a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. In the meeting, which was attended by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Principal Secretary to PM Dr. PK Mishra, Principal Secretary-2 to PM Shaktikanta Das, Adviser to PM Amit Khare, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and other senior officials, Modi stressed the need to analyse the trends of TB patients based on urban or rural areas and also based on their occupations. 'This will help identify groups that need early testing and treatment, especially workers in construction, mining, textile mills, and similar fields,' according to a statement issued by the Union Health Ministry. 'As technology in healthcare improves, Nikshay Mitras (supporters of TB patients) should be encouraged to use technology to connect with TB patients. They can help patients understand the disease and its treatment using interactive and easy-to-use technology,' the statement said. The Prime Minister said that since TB is now curable with regular treatment, there should be less fear and more awareness among the public. He highlighted the importance of cleanliness through Jan Bhagidari as a key step in eliminating TB. He urged efforts to personally reach out to each patient to ensure they get proper treatment. During the meeting, Prime Minister noted the encouraging findings of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global TB Report 2024, which affirmed an 18% reduction in TB incidence (from 237 to 195 per lakh population between 2015 and 2023), which is double the global pace; 21% decline in TB mortality (from 28 to 22 per lakh population) and 85% treatment coverage, reflecting the programme's growing reach and effectiveness. He also reviewed key infrastructure enhancements, including expansion of the TB diagnostic network to 8,540 NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing) labs and 87 culture and drug susceptibility labs; over 26,700 X-ray units, including 500 AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices, with another 1,000 in the pipeline. 'The decentralisation of all TB services including free screening, diagnosis, treatment and nutrition support at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs was also highlighted,' the statement said. Prime Minister was apprised of introduction of several new initiatives such as AI driven hand-held X-rays for screening, shorter treatment regimen for drug resistant TB, newer indigenous molecular diagnostics, nutrition interventions and screening and early detection in congregate settings like mines, tea garden, construction sites, urban slums, etc. including nutrition initiatives; Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana DBT payments to 1.28 crore TB patients since 2018 and enhancement of the incentive to Rs. 1,000 in 2024. Under the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative, 29.4 lakh food baskets have been distributed by 2.55 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras, the ministry said.
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Need ‘whole of govt, society' approach to eliminate TB: PM Modi
Reaffirming India's commitment to eliminate tuberculosis, PM Narendra Modi Tuesday called for a 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-of-society' approach to scaling up the successful strategies nationwide. Chairing a meeting to review status of National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), the PM stressed the need to analyse the trends of TB cases in urban or rural areas and based on people's occupations. This, he said, will help identify groups that need early testing and treatment, especially workers in construction, mining, textile mills and similar fields. The PM also highlighted the importance of cleanliness through Jan Bhagidari (community participation) as a key step in eliminating the disease. India has set a target for eliminating TB by 2025-end, five years ahead of the global goal. The global End TB Strategy for 2030 says that countries must reduce the number of TB deaths by 90% and new cases by 80% as compared to the levels in 2015. Towards this goal, the Centre last December launched a 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in 347 priority districts. Under this campaign, health workers looked for TB cases among vulnerable individuals such as household contacts of TB patients, under-nourished individuals, those living with HIV, diabetics, smokers and alcoholics, among others. Over 12.9 crore vulnerable individuals were screened and 7.19 lakh new TB cases detected, including 2.85 lakh asymptomatic patients. The 100-day campaign would further close the gap between the estimated number of TB patients and reported cases. According to the latest available Global TB report, in 2023, of its estimated 28 lakh cases, India reported 25.2 lakh cases. According to officials in the know of the matter, several technologies and methods tried out during the campaign would be implemented across the country. Training was underway, they said. One of the key innovations utilised during the campaign — which helped in detecting several of the asymptomatic patients — was the AI driven hand-held X-ray machines. These machines used AI to read the X-rays without a doctor, meaning these tests could be done by minimally trained health workers. Another key method was Jan Bhagidari — the participation of parliamentarians, Assembly members, local government representatives, officials and members of the public. During the meeting, Modi was informed that over 1 lakh new Nikshay Mitras — who provide nutritional support to TB patients during treatment — had augmented the campaign, along with `1,000 support from government.
