Uttarakhand

• 02 Mar 2023

Uttarakhand's First Heli Ambulance Service Will Start from April

Why In News?

According to information received from media sources on March 1, 2023, the state's first Heli ambulance pilot project is going to start in AIIMS Rishikesh by the last week of April. Prime Minister Narendra Modi can inaugurate the project.

Key points

• According to the information, the Union Aviation Ministry has signed a contract with a company to operate the Heli Ambulance. The Central and state governments will jointly operate Heli ambulance service in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
• The Central and Uttarakhand government will operate the Heli ambulance service in a partnership of 50-50 percent. The contracted company will provide free Heli ambulances to 45 injured and patients in a month. The Heli ambulance covers 100 km from Uttar Pradesh along with the whole of Uttarakhand. Provide service within the scope of
• The contracted company will provide a single-engine helicopter to AIIMS. The company will also deploy medical resources in it. The AIIMS administration is preparing a Medical Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the operation of Heli ambulances. The first trial run of the Heli ambulance will take place. The service will start after getting the green signal from the AIIMS administration.
• With the introduction of Heli ambulance service, Chardham pilgrims will also get the benefit. Till now, accident and critically ill passengers were airlifted to AIIMS. But now the Heli ambulance will take them to AIIMS.
• Executive Director of AIIMS Rishikesh Prof. Meenu Singh said that the Heli ambulance service will provide timely treatment to the seriously injured and patients of hilly and inaccessible rural areas. The success of the project will also open the way for Heli ambulance service in other states of the country.

Selection of Two Women Sarpanches of the State for Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman-2023

Why In News?

According to the information received from the media sources on March 1, 2023, Sarpanch Kavita Devi from district Bageshwar and Sarpanch Nikita Chauhan from Dehradun have been declared ODF (free from open defecation) by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. He has been selected for the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023 for his excellent work and extraordinary contribution towards creating a plus model.

Key points

• On International Women's Day, she will be honored with the 'Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023' by the President at a function organized by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti on March 4 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• International Women's Day Week will be celebrated from March 4 under Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry.
• Congratulating the two women sarpanches, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that it is a matter of pride for the people of the state, especially the women here, to get this honor.
• This award is a recognition of the extraordinary contribution of women leadership at the grassroots level in Uttarakhand. This honor will inspire all those who are working to make their villages clean and water conservation in the villages. Village heads and sarpanches have an important role in making villages clean, construction of ODF plus model villages, Har Ghar Jal mission and water conservation.
• In Uttarakhand, women village heads, women Sarpanchs, women Swachhagrahis, women self-help groups, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers are making extraordinary contributions to the development of the state through their effective leadership and efficient management at the ground level.