Uttarakhand

• 18 Aug 2021

Dhami Launches Free Pathology Test Scheme

Why in News

• On August 17, 2021, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the free pathology test scheme for the people of the state at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (Coronation).

Key Points

• This scheme has been launched under the Public Private Partnership model.
• Under this, 207 types of pathological tests will be done free of cost in government hospitals of the state with the funds provided by the National Health Mission (NHM).
• This scheme will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the scheme will be launched in 38 district sub-hospitals and community health centers in six districts – Almora, Tehri, Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. In the second phase, the free pathology test scheme will be implemented in the remaining districts.

Rare Orchid Species Found in Uttarakhand

Why in News

• Recently, for the first time in India, the discovery of a rare species of orchid has been confirmed by the Botanical Survey of India in the Mandal area of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Cephalanthera erecta var: This species of orchid named oblansevalata was discovered by the research wing of the forest department at an altitude of 1870 meters in the humus-rich oak-burans (rhododendron-oak) forests in the Mandal area of Chamoli district.
• Although the species was discovered in May 2021, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has recently confirmed it. Now it has been officially recognized by BSI as the new edition of the List of Indian Flora. BSI has confirmed the addition of Cephalanthera erecta to its new edition of Nelumbo Magazine.
• Chief Conservator of Forests (Research) Sanjeev Chaturvedi said that Range Officer Harish Negi and Junior Research Fellow Manoj Singh have discovered it. These terrestrial orchids were found growing on the soil during the discovery of flowers in the circle.
• Found on the ground, this species of orchid grows from five to 20 cm tall and beautiful white flowers bloom on it in May-June.
• This species has now been found in India after Japan, China and Nepal.
• It is worth noting that recently the first orchid conservation center of North India established in the village of Khalla near Gopeshwar in Chamoli district has been dedicated to the public.