Chhattisgarh

• 31 Jan 2022

Leprosy Awareness Campaign Started in Raipur District

Why in News

• To mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to spread awareness about leprosy, ‘Sparsh Leprosy Public Awareness Fortnight’ was started in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh on January 30, 2022. It will end on February 13.

Key Points

• It is worth noting that on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary (30 January) in India, 'Anti-Leprosy Day' is celebrated to end the stigma and discrimination related to leprosy and to spread awareness about it among the people.
• Inaugurating the campaign, Dr. Firoz Khan (Superintendent, Government Leprosy Center, Pandri, Raipur) said that the superstition prevailing in the society sees leprosy as a sin from a previous birth. People who hide the disease for fear of being ostracized from society actually spread the disease.
• He said that people need to understand that leprosy is a curable disease and if it is delayed it can lead to disability and deformity in the affected organs. He said that being a bacterial disease, it does not spread through touch, but there is a need for early identification and treatment of the patient.
• According to the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 'Gram Sabha' will be organized at the village level to remove fear and misconceptions and create awareness among the villagers about leprosy. On this occasion a fully cured leprosy patient will be honored as a guest.
• Publicity vehicles will be used to create awareness about leprosy and its treatment in the villages. A team will drive door-to-door to check the symptoms of leprosy.
• It may be noted that the prevalence rate of leprosy in Chhattisgarh is 2.45 per 10,000 population. The target has been set to bring the rate to less than 1 per 10,000 population.

'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will be Lit in Raipur in Honor of Martyrs

Why in News

• On January 29, 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced the construction of 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' in the capital Raipur in honor of the martyrs. Its Bhoomi Pujan will be done at the hands of MP Rahul Gandhi on 3rd February.

Key Points

• 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will be constructed in the premises of 4th Corps Chhattisgarh Armed Forces Mana, Raipur. Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti will continue to burn in honor of the martyrs.
• The Chief Minister said that the martyrs of the sons of Chhattisgarh who laid down their lives in uniformed services for the country, as well as the bravehearts of the country who sacrificed their lives in Chhattisgarh, were honored through 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti'.
• In the year 1972, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lit the Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi in honor of the martyred brave soldiers of the country. It had been burning continuously since 1972, but the central government shifted the Amar Jawan Jyoti from India Gate to the National War Memorial.
• Martyrs' roll list wall, memorial tower and VVIP platform will also be prepared at Amar Jawan Jyoti in Chhattisgarh. The wall of the list of martyrs will be constructed with brown marble and the names of the martyrs will be written by digging in the same marble. This wall will remain in the form of a crescent of about 25 feet high and about 100 feet in length. The thickness of this wall will be 3 feet.
• The memorial tower will be set up of sandstone brown white marble granite in front of a crescent-shaped wall. A memento will be built on its top.
• Rifle and helmet will be the insignia on the base in front of the memorial tower. In front of this emblem, 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will be lit, which will burn 24 hours by fuel supply through underground pipelines.
• A fort-like two-storey building will be constructed just in front of the Memorial Tower. The length of the base of this building will be 150 feet, width 90 feet and height 40 feet. In front of the said building, 16 domes will be constructed for the standing of 16 buglers.
• A picture exhibition of martyrs will be kept on the first floor of this building and an arms exhibition will be kept on the second floor. Mess and residential rooms with all facilities will be constructed in this unit for the stay of the families of the martyrs involved during the State Level Police Commemoration Day to be organized every year on 21st October.