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Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Unclean public toilets upset Trichy's gains
Trichy: Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, the national cleanliness ranking done by the Union govt, has placed Trichy in 49th spot among 95 cities participating in the 'big cities' category (population of 3-10 lakh). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While Trichy retained the state's cleanest city tag in the category by scoring 8,239 marks, the overall state-level rank based on scores has slipped from '1' in the previous survey to '2' now. Coimbatore, which participated in the million plus population category, secured 8,347 marks and climbed to the top spot. Low scores in cleanliness of public toilets and source segregation of waste were blamed for Trichy's slide. Out of a total 12,500 marks, the survey earmarked 10,000 marks for 10 sections and 54 indicators including visible cleanliness, segregation and transportation of waste, access to sanitation, and citizen feedback. While Trichy scored full marks in remediation of dump sites, cleanliness of residential areas, cleanliness of market areas, and cleanliness of water bodies, the city did not score any marks in cleanliness of public toilets and only 14% marks in source segregation. Door-to-door waste collection has earned 70% marks for the city, despite the civic body outsourcing waste management. Despite scoring high marks in categories such as waste processing where several other participant cities scored low, nil mark secured by Trichy in upkeep of public toilets has helped other cities steal a march over it. Thus far, Trichy remained undisputed leader as state's cleanest city irrespective of the category. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Meanwhile, in the certification category for which 2,500 marks were assigned, Trichy secured ODF++ (Open Defecation Free) certification. This means that all community toilets are functioning and well-maintained, and sewage is not dumped in open drains. In Garbage Free City (GFC) category, which assesses cities for construction and demolition (C&D) waste management, no major TN cities including Trichy and Coimbatore scored marks out of 1,300 marks. Trichy corporation officials have expressed shock at the scores awarded in maintenance of public toilets. The city has around 400 public and community toilets maintained by SHGs. They wondered how the city could get zero in cleanliness of public toilets after being certified as ODF++. "We registered our disappointment for the scores in maintenance of public toilets and sought re-evaluation. Perhaps data could have been wrongly uploaded, we are awaiting a positive response," an official source said.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ernakulam General Hospital wins Kayakalp Award
Kochi: Ernakulam General Hospital (GH) secured first place in the state for the 2024-25 Kayakalp Award with a score of 93%. The award, instituted by Union govt, evaluates and promotes cleanliness, waste management and infection control in govt health institutions. The award is given to the best hospitals in the state based on these criteria. The state-level award committee selected the GH after conducting inspections at both district and state levels. The hospital is winning the award for the third time. On Feb 14, three assessors appointed by National Health Mission (NHM) visited the institution for evaluation. The hospital achieved the top position after careful observation of around 100 factors, including disease prevention, cleanliness, infection control, eco-friendly practices and patient safety components. Hospital superintendent Dr Shahirsha commended all the staff members who work for both patient care and environmental cleanliness. Ernakulam GH has become the only district-level institution in the state to win this award three times. With 280 ICU beds and 862 beds, it is one of the busiest hospitals in Kerala.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
In Gujarat's cities, diets still run on cereals
Gandhinagar: In households in Gujarat's cities, cereals may take up less space in the grocery bill, but they still dominate the dinner plate. A new Union govt report shows that cereals, while accounting for just 3.8% of household spending, supply 35% of total calorie intake in cities. In villages, their role is even more dominant, making up 43% of calorie consumption while accounting for 4.5% of total spending. Cereals also account for a major portion of protein intake for people in Gujarat. These insights come from the Centre's latest "Nutritional Intake in India" report, which tracks food patterns and calorie sources across Indian states. The report reveals that Gujarat has seen a modest improvement in overall nutritional intake over the past 15 years, with urban residents gaining an extra 214 calories per day. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Between 2009-10 and 2023-24, the average per capita daily calorie intake in Gujarat's urban areas increased from 2,096 to 2,310. In rural regions, the increase was more modest, from 2,046 to 2,105 calories per day. Spending patterns show that food still commands a significant portion of monthly expenses. In 2023-24, people in rural Gujarat spent 49.5% of their total expenditure on food, compared to 43.6% in urban areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Despite this, cereals continue to be the backbone of both calorie and protein intake. The report highlights the composition of protein sources. In rural Gujarat, 47.3% of protein comes from cereals, 10.6% from pulses, 15% from milk and milk products, 3.6% from eggs, fish, and meat, and 23.5% from other sources. In urban areas, 40.4% of protein comes from cereals, 11.2% from pulses, 16.3% from milk and milk products, 3.6% from animal-based foods, and 28.4% from other items. Nutrition experts say the findings underline Gujarat's continued dependence on cereals, especially in rural areas, despite gradual diversification in urban diets. While the increase in calorie intake is a positive sign, the composition of nutrients remains heavily skewed.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Doctors, experts back govt stand on safety of Covid-19 vaccines
NEW DELHI: Top doctors, industry experts and pharma promoters have joined the Union govt in denying any potential link between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden deaths in the country, days after Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that hasty approval and administration of Covid vaccines could be the reason behind such incidents. Dr Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS Delhi, said there is no evidence of a link between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden heart attacks. Siddaramaiah's remarks came in the wake of a spate of sudden cardiac deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district in recent weeks. Pharma promoters who compete fiercely in the market all rallied behind domestically manufactured vaccines, including those for Covid-19 and polio. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said such claims are "factually incorrect" and "misleading". "Covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under Emergency Use Authorisation framework following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were 'hastily' approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation," Shaw said on social media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like La rutina de abs que necesitas [Descubre] VIDA FIT Leer más Undo She added: "These vaccines have saved millions of lives and, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in a very small number of individuals. It is important to acknowledge the science and data-driven processes behind their development, rather than engage in retrospective blame". Satish Reddy, chairman of Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Dilip Shanghvi, promoter and CMD of Sun Pharma, Pankaj Patel, chairman and promoter of Zydus Lifesciences, and Torrent Pharma chairman Samir Mehta - industry leaders known for their media reticence - each took to social media platforms to endorse India-made vaccines. "They helped end polio and fight Covid. At a time when India is seen as a vaccine leader, let's build trust in science, not doubt it. Public health must stay above politics," Reddy said in a post on X. Patel said on X that there are "other multiple reasons, like age, environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle, etc, that could be the leading cause of heart attacks in people. Several scientific studies globally and in India have conclusively shown that the risk of heart attack or myocarditis is greater after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has been proven beyond doubt that vaccination remains the most effective and preventive healthcare strategy to reduce deaths and disabilities". Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), without naming Siddaramaiah, said, "Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally".
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Gujarat set to cap speed limit for congested city roads at 30kmph
Ahmedabad: The state urban development department is finalizing speed restrictions for city roads. In a decade, road accidents have claimed 75,738 lives across the state. Govt sources indicated that maximum permissible speed on congested streets will drop to 30 kmph, with limits reaching 45-60 kmph on wider free-flowing arteries. The initiative stems from recommendations by a high-level committee tasked with addressing Gujarat's position as the eighth-deadliest state for road fatalities between 2013 and 2022, according to Union govt data presented to Parliament in Dec 2024. The department's officials are revising the General Development Control Rules (GDCR) to prioritize urban road safety. The new framework will determine speed thresholds based on road width, traffic density and time periods throughout the day. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad In 2022, state govt had notified speed limits for various types of vehicles. It was then stated that the speed for a car within city limits cannot exceed 70 kmph. The limit for motorcycles of more than 100cc displacement was 60 kmph and for motorcycles of less than 100cc was 50 kmph. The speed limit for a car on expressways was 120 kmph, on highways with dividers and four or more lanes it was 100 kmph and on state highways, it was 80 kmph. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Speed limits in cities play a crucial role in ensuring road safety, with higher speeds significantly increasing the risk of severe accidents," a senior UDD department official stated. "At a speed of 80 kmph, the likelihood of death in a crash is 20 times higher than at 30 kmph." The proposed system follows international models where residential and high-traffic zones enforce a 30 kmph limit to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Arterial roads and highways will accommodate faster movement while maintaining safety parameters. Planning incorporates land-use patterns and activity levels along urban corridors. High-speed sections will require engineered pedestrian crossings to ensure safe passage across traffic flows. "The department will analyze the impact of implementation before announcing the enforcement mechanism for all cities," a UDD official told TOI.
