• 21 Oct 2023

National Aging Center will be built in BHU

Why In News?

On October 19, 2023, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya informed Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Seema Dwivedi through a letter regarding the approval to build a National Aging Center in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points:

• The country's third Geriatric Care and Rehabilitation Center (National Aging Centre) will be built in BHU, Uttar Pradesh. At present such centers are running in AIIMS, Delhi and Madras (Chennai) Medical College.
• The elderly will get the most benefit from this center being built under the 'National Program for Healthcare of the Elderly'. With the construction of this centre, the elderly will not have to wander much to get treatment. All diseases can be treated in this centre.
• This center will be constructed at the old petrol pump site of BHU, Uttar Pradesh. This center will be a six-storey building, which will have 200 beds.

Dialysis Units will open at Three places including Varanasi

Why In News?

On October 19, 2023, on the instructions of Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, financial approval has been given for 11 hospitals of the state to open dialysis units in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points:

• With this amount sanctioned for opening dialysis units in Uttar Pradesh, dialysis units for kidney patients are being opened in the hospitals of Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur districts.
• The Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh has instructed the officials to do the work regarding opening the dialysis unit on time.
• Blood banks will also be established in three hospitals of Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
• The Deputy CM has said that government hospitals are being equipped with modern facilities. Instructions have been given to open two dialysis units of four beds each in Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Hospital, Lucknow. Also, permission has been given to Rotary International for a blood bank in the hospital.
• Similarly, permission has been given to open dialysis units of four beds each in Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Rotary International will also help in setting up blood banks in these two hospitals.

Three Weavers Selected for Kabir Award

Why In News?

On October 19, 2023, in the context of the selection of Sant Kabir State Handloom Award of Uttar Pradesh, in the selection committee meeting held under the chairmanship of DM S Rajalingam at the Rifle Club, three winners for the Kabir Award at the regional level were announced.

Key Points:

• For its first award, Lakshmi from Varanasi was selected for color cart design.
• For its second prize, Rukhsar Begum of Mirzapur was selected for the carpet.
• For its third prize, Mangala Prasad Maurya of Varanasi was selected for the dupatta.
• Under Kabir Award, the first, second and third winners are given a shield, certificate and Angavastram along with a prescribed amount of money.
• Under the Kabir Award, the first prize is Rs 20,000, the second prize is Rs 15,000 and the third prize is Rs 10,000 along with a shield, certificate and angavastram.

Chief Minister Approves 10 New Works under the Rural Promotion Program

Why In News?

On October 18, 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal gave administrative approval to 10 new works worth more than Rs 113 crore under the Rural Enhancement Program in 4 districts Kaithal, Sirsa, Rohtak and Jind as part of efforts to improve water supply in the state.

Key Points:

• In this regard, a government spokesperson said that the sanctioned works include the works of canal based water supply scheme for three villages (Thobriya, Mirzapur and Talwara Khurd) and 4 Dhanis (Moju ki Dhani, Tibba ki Dhani, Daya Singh Thed, Bazigar Dhani).
• Also, the works include construction of water works at Moju ki Dhani in various villages of district Sirsa, expansion of the existing water supply scheme in village Khari Sureran and providing fresh water from Sheranwali distributary to 9 existing water works by building common pumping stations.
• Apart from these, canal based water works at Sant Nagar, Dalip Nagar, Tigri and Sahrani in district Sirsa, expansion of water supply scheme in village Dhand block of Kaithal district and upgradation of distribution system have also been approved.
• The spokesperson said that JLN along with construction of canal based water works at village Mauldin and village Ottu in district Sirsa, boosting station at village Baland in district Rohtak along with laying of DI pipe from Rohtak Pump House to second water works and first water works. The work of ensuring provision of fresh water from the canal was also approved.
• The Chief Minister also approved laying of sewer lines in various colonies of Jind city and replacement of all damaged existing sewer lines.
• The spokesperson said that a sewerage system has been provided in 90 percent area of Jind city, in which the total length of sewer lines is 465 kilometers. 16 sewer pumping stations have been established for sewer pumping to sewage treatment plants. Three sewage treatment plants with 27 MLD capacity have also been established for sewage treatment as per the norms prescribed by Haryana State Pollution Control Board.
• Sewer lines at many places in various colonies are very old and badly damaged, which cannot be repaired or the cost of repair is equivalent to new lines. Therefore, provision of new sewer lines has been approved at a cost of Rs 8.21 crore.

'Bring a Bill, get Reward' Scheme

why in discussion

On October 19, 2023, Uttarakhand Finance Minister Premchand Aggarwal distributed prizes to the lucky draw winners of the Uttarakhand Tax Department's 'Bring a Bill, get Reward' Scheme’ conducted in the months of April and May.

Key Points:

• In the prize distribution program at the State Tax Headquarters, Finance Minister Premchand Aggarwal distributed smartphones, smart watches and ear pods to 100 winners of the lucky draw.
• With the aim of making consumers aware about collecting GST bills, 'Bring a Bill, get Reward Scheme' is being run from September 1, 2022. So far seven monthly lucky draws have been conducted under the scheme.
• On this occasion, the Finance Minister said that from September 2022 till now 47,134 consumers have been registered in the scheme. 2,10,382 bills were uploaded through these. The total value of purchase of goods in these bills is Rs 82.60 crore. Since April 1 this year, 15,603 consumers have been registered, who have uploaded 1,23,467 bills worth Rs 41.28 crore.
• He informed that the 'Bring Bill and Get Reward Scheme' was ending on March 31, 2023, which the government had extended till November. Mega prizes will also be given after 30th November. Apart from this, there is a system of giving points on every uploaded bill by implementing a customer reward program on every uploaded bill. Those traders will be given rewards under the scheme.

The State is Making 20 Percent of the Medicines in the Country

Why In News?

On October 18, 2023, State Drug Controller of Uttarakhand Tajbar Singh said that Uttarakhand is producing 20 percent of the medicines of the total production in the country. The state is developing as a major hub of the country in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Key Points:

• State Drug Controller Tajbar Singh said that due to the new industrial policy and favorable environment, business is continuously increasing along with investment in the pharmaceutical sector in the state. Uttarakhand's contribution to the total production of medicines in the country is about 20 percent.
• In 2022, the state's pharma sector did a turnover of Rs 15 thousand crores. In this, medicines worth Rs 1150 crore were exported.
• He said that there are 249 drug manufacturing pharma companies in Haridwar, Selaqui and Pantnagar. The effort of the department is to produce high quality medicines in these companies and also to increase the share of medicines of these companies in the country.
• Under the Industrial Policy, industries are allowed online under the Single Window Scheme. The Drug Control Department remains alert to manufacture high quality medicines as per the standards in the state and the quality and standards of medicines are checked from time to time.
• Tajbar Singh said that the sub-zone offices of the Central Drug Standards Organization are established in Uttarakhand. Due to the online licensing process for pharma companies, the complexity of the application has been eliminated. Licenses are issued after joint inspection by the Central and State Governments for the quality of medicines.