News Analysis India

Tag: AIIMS

  • Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak dies after suffering cardiac arrest

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Sulabh International founder and social activist Bindeshwar Pathak, a pioneer in building public toilets, died at AIIMS here due to a cardiac arrest on Tuesday, according to a close aide.

    The aide said 80-year-old Pathak hoisted the national flag at the Sulabh International headquarters in the morning on the occasion of Independence Day and collapsed soon after.

    While the aide said Pathak breathed his last at AIIMS, a source at the hospital said he was declared brought dead at 1:42 pm.

    The cause of death was cardiac arrest, according to Pathak’s aide.

    Sulabh International is a social service organisation that works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, waste management and reforms through education.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation said, “Founder Sulabh Sanitation, Social Reform and Human Rights Movement, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak is no more. He died of cardiac arrest at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.”

    “He was rushed to the hospital after he complained of uneasiness in the midst of Independence Day celebrations at the campus of Sulabh, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi,” it said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Pathak’s demise.

    “The passing away of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak Ji is a profound loss for our nation. He was a visionary who worked extensively for societal progress and empowering the downtrodden.”

    “Bindeshwar Ji made it his mission to build a cleaner India. He provided monumental support to the Swachh Bharat Mission. During our various conversations, his passion towards Swachhata was always visible,” Modi said in a post on X.

    “His work will continue to inspire several people. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Om Shanti,” he said, sharing two pictures of him with Pathak.

    Pathak founded Sulabh International in 1970 with a vision to eradicate open defecation and unclean public toilets.

    The organisation’s pioneering efforts led to the development of the revolutionary Sulabh toilet, a low-cost, eco-friendly solution that has revolutionised sanitation practices across the nation.

    Sulabh toilet revolutionised sanitation practices, providing millions with access to clean and dignified restroom facilities.

    His vision extended beyond technology, encompassing a broader mission of eradicating the stigma associated with manual scavenging and uplifting the lives of those who had long been relegated to the fringes of society.

    Through his determined advocacy and innovative initiatives, Pathak successfully raised awareness about the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene, contributing significantly to disease prevention and improved public health.

    In India, the name Sulabh is synonymous with public restrooms.

    Pathak also started the Sulabh initiative for widows which was meant to emancipate them from all kinds of deprivations, restrictions and humiliations.

    He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

    NEW DELHI: Sulabh International founder and social activist Bindeshwar Pathak, a pioneer in building public toilets, died at AIIMS here due to a cardiac arrest on Tuesday, according to a close aide.

    The aide said 80-year-old Pathak hoisted the national flag at the Sulabh International headquarters in the morning on the occasion of Independence Day and collapsed soon after.

    While the aide said Pathak breathed his last at AIIMS, a source at the hospital said he was declared brought dead at 1:42 pm.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The cause of death was cardiac arrest, according to Pathak’s aide.

    Sulabh International is a social service organisation that works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, waste management and reforms through education.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation said, “Founder Sulabh Sanitation, Social Reform and Human Rights Movement, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak is no more. He died of cardiac arrest at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.”

    “He was rushed to the hospital after he complained of uneasiness in the midst of Independence Day celebrations at the campus of Sulabh, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi,” it said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Pathak’s demise.

    “The passing away of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak Ji is a profound loss for our nation. He was a visionary who worked extensively for societal progress and empowering the downtrodden.”

    “Bindeshwar Ji made it his mission to build a cleaner India. He provided monumental support to the Swachh Bharat Mission. During our various conversations, his passion towards Swachhata was always visible,” Modi said in a post on X.

    “His work will continue to inspire several people. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Om Shanti,” he said, sharing two pictures of him with Pathak.

    Pathak founded Sulabh International in 1970 with a vision to eradicate open defecation and unclean public toilets.

    The organisation’s pioneering efforts led to the development of the revolutionary Sulabh toilet, a low-cost, eco-friendly solution that has revolutionised sanitation practices across the nation.

    Sulabh toilet revolutionised sanitation practices, providing millions with access to clean and dignified restroom facilities.

    His vision extended beyond technology, encompassing a broader mission of eradicating the stigma associated with manual scavenging and uplifting the lives of those who had long been relegated to the fringes of society.

    Through his determined advocacy and innovative initiatives, Pathak successfully raised awareness about the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene, contributing significantly to disease prevention and improved public health.

    In India, the name Sulabh is synonymous with public restrooms.

    Pathak also started the Sulabh initiative for widows which was meant to emancipate them from all kinds of deprivations, restrictions and humiliations.

    He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

  • AIIMS staff crisis: Modi govt has rendered India’s health system ‘sick’, says Congress chief Kharge

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his government has rendered the health system of the country “sick” with even AIIMS facilities grappling with a shortage of doctors and staff.

    The Congress chief also claimed that people have been awakened and the time has come for the Modi government’s “farewell.”

    Kharge also cited a media report which claimed that 19 AIIMS are facing a shortage of doctors and staff.

    “Loot and jumlas have made the country unhealthy. Only lies are embedded in every word of Modi ji! Claimed that they have set up many AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences). It is the truth that our AIIMS are facing a severe shortage of doctors and staff!” the Congress chief said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    “Mr Modi, From apathy during the Coronavirus pandemic to scams in Ayushman Bharat, your government has made the country’s health system sick,” Kharge alleged.

    “The people have been awakened. Your deceit has been recognised and the time has come for your government’s farewell!” he said.

    लूट और जुमलों ने देश को किया अस्वस्थ,मोदी जी के हर शब्द में केवल झूठ ही कंठस्थ !दावा किया कि बनायें हैं AIIMS कई सारे,सच्चाई है कि डॉक्टर-स्टाफ़ की भारी कमी से जूझे AIIMS हमारे !मोदी जी,कोरोना महामारी में उदासीनता से लेकर, आयुष्मान भारत में घपलेबाजी तक …आपकी… pic.twitter.com/TsMxREIwW2
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 13, 2023
    About 5,527 faculty positions in all AIIMS have been sanctioned, of which, 2,161 are vacant currently.

    AIIMS, New Delhi is leading the list of such institutes with as many as 347 faculty positions remaining unfilled which accounts for over 28 per cent of such sanctioned posts.

    The situation is grimmer in overall faculty strength across 20 old and new AIIMS situated countrywide.  As per the data, the cumulative vacant positions at all 20 Institute of National Importance swell up to 40 per cent.

    (With additional inputs from ENS)

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his government has rendered the health system of the country “sick” with even AIIMS facilities grappling with a shortage of doctors and staff.

    The Congress chief also claimed that people have been awakened and the time has come for the Modi government’s “farewell.”

    Kharge also cited a media report which claimed that 19 AIIMS are facing a shortage of doctors and staff.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Loot and jumlas have made the country unhealthy. Only lies are embedded in every word of Modi ji! Claimed that they have set up many AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences). It is the truth that our AIIMS are facing a severe shortage of doctors and staff!” the Congress chief said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    “Mr Modi, From apathy during the Coronavirus pandemic to scams in Ayushman Bharat, your government has made the country’s health system sick,” Kharge alleged.

    “The people have been awakened. Your deceit has been recognised and the time has come for your government’s farewell!” he said.

    लूट और जुमलों ने देश को किया अस्वस्थ,
    मोदी जी के हर शब्द में केवल झूठ ही कंठस्थ !
    दावा किया कि बनायें हैं AIIMS कई सारे,
    सच्चाई है कि डॉक्टर-स्टाफ़ की भारी कमी से जूझे AIIMS हमारे !
    मोदी जी,
    कोरोना महामारी में उदासीनता से लेकर, आयुष्मान भारत में घपलेबाजी तक …
    आपकी… pic.twitter.com/TsMxREIwW2
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 13, 2023
    About 5,527 faculty positions in all AIIMS have been sanctioned, of which, 2,161 are vacant currently.

    AIIMS, New Delhi is leading the list of such institutes with as many as 347 faculty positions remaining unfilled which accounts for over 28 per cent of such sanctioned posts.

    The situation is grimmer in overall faculty strength across 20 old and new AIIMS situated countrywide.  As per the data, the cumulative vacant positions at all 20 Institute of National Importance swell up to 40 per cent.

    (With additional inputs from ENS)

  • AIIMS reels under severe faculty shortage

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: AIIMS, which has emerged as a brand for the premier medical institute and research body, is facing a grave shortage of teaching faculty. 

    As many as 347 faculty positions in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) remain unfilled which accounts for over 28 per cent of such sanctioned posts. 

    The situation is grimmer in overall faculty strength across 20 old and new AIIMS situated countrywide. As per the data, the cumulative vacant positions at all 20 Institute of National Importance swell up to 40 per cent.

    The information was shared by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in response to a query raised in Rajya Sabha by Congress MP Jyotsna Charandas Mahant.

    According to the data, about 5,527 faculty positions in all AIIMS have been sanctioned, of which, 2,161 are vacant currently. AIIMS, New Delhi is leading the list of such institutes.

    Notably, in April this year, AIIMS, New Delhi Director M Srinivas launched ‘Mission Recruitment’ to fill up vacancies across departments and disciplines in the top medical institute with the objective to bring down the unfilled posts to “near zero” by September this year. 

    No data was shared about his many such vacancies were filled under this initiative.

    Meanwhile, listing the measures the Union Health Ministry has taken to improve the shortage of faculty, the minister stated that the upper age limit for direct recruitment against the posts of Professor and Additional Professor has been raised from 50 years to 58 years.

    “Contractual engagement of retired faculty of Government Medical Colleges/Institutes up to 70 years of age has been allowed,” he added in his reply.

    Mandaviya also informed the House that centralized recruitment for Nursing cadres has been implemented.

    Besides, he also pointed out that the status of recruitment in various AIIMS is monitored at the level of the Ministry.

    Additionally, Mandaviya’s reply revealed that under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the setting up of 150 bedded critical care block has been approved in seven AIIMS at Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh.

                 Institute                   Sanctioned Strength      Vacancy

    AIIMS Delhi                 1207                                347
    AIIMS Kalyani               259                                151
    AIIMS Madurai              183                                141
    AIIMS Raipur                 305                                115
    AIIMS Rajkot                 183                                111
    AIIMS Bhopal                305                                109
    AIIMS Guwahati            183                                100

    NEW DELHI: AIIMS, which has emerged as a brand for the premier medical institute and research body, is facing a grave shortage of teaching faculty. 

    As many as 347 faculty positions in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) remain unfilled which accounts for over 28 per cent of such sanctioned posts. 

    The situation is grimmer in overall faculty strength across 20 old and new AIIMS situated countrywide. As per the data, the cumulative vacant positions at all 20 Institute of National Importance swell up to 40 per cent.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The information was shared by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in response to a query raised in Rajya Sabha by Congress MP Jyotsna Charandas Mahant.

    According to the data, about 5,527 faculty positions in all AIIMS have been sanctioned, of which, 2,161 are vacant currently. AIIMS, New Delhi is leading the list of such institutes.

    Notably, in April this year, AIIMS, New Delhi Director M Srinivas launched ‘Mission Recruitment’ to fill up vacancies across departments and disciplines in the top medical institute with the objective to bring down the unfilled posts to “near zero” by September this year. 

    No data was shared about his many such vacancies were filled under this initiative.

    Meanwhile, listing the measures the Union Health Ministry has taken to improve the shortage of faculty, the minister stated that the upper age limit for direct recruitment against the posts of Professor and Additional Professor has been raised from 50 years to 58 years.

    “Contractual engagement of retired faculty of Government Medical Colleges/Institutes up to 70 years of age has been allowed,” he added in his reply.

    Mandaviya also informed the House that centralized recruitment for Nursing cadres has been implemented.

    Besides, he also pointed out that the status of recruitment in various AIIMS is monitored at the level of the Ministry.

    Additionally, Mandaviya’s reply revealed that under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the setting up of 150 bedded critical care block has been approved in seven AIIMS at Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh.

                 Institute                   Sanctioned Strength      Vacancy

    AIIMS Delhi                 1207                                347
    AIIMS Kalyani               259                                151
    AIIMS Madurai              183                                141
    AIIMS Raipur                 305                                115
    AIIMS Rajkot                 183                                111
    AIIMS Bhopal                305                                109
    AIIMS Guwahati            183                                100

  • Odisha train accident: More than 100 bodies still waiting to be claimed

    By Express News Service

    BHUBANESWAR: Even as the state government started the process of identification and handing over of bodies of the deceased to the next of kin, around 100 victims are yet to be identified.

    Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena on Monday said 176 bodies (91 in Bhubaneswar and 85 in Balasore) have been identified so far and are being handed over for transfer to their destination after due process. “Arrangements for free transportation of the bodies by hearses/dead body carriers till destination have been made to help the bereaved families, who are already under a lot of trauma,” he told media persons.

    The chief secretary said arrangements have also been made to collect applications for death certificates and process the same for transportation of bodies within minimum time with the help of Balasore police, hospital authorities and municipality. The death certificates will be sent electronically or via speed post, he said.

    The state government has also issued two toll-free numbers – 18003450061/1929 – for those looking for their relatives. “People can call the numbers from anywhere in India for information on the dead and the injured,” Jena said.  

    Once they arrive in Odisha, government officials will receive them and facilitate the body identification process in an organised manner, the chief secretary said.  The Odisha government on Monday revised the injured tally in the accident from 1,175 to 1,207. While 1,207 were admitted to different government and private hospitals in the state, 1,009 have been discharged. Of the remaining 198 under treatment, one patient is in critical care. 

    The chief secretary said there is no dearth of blood for the treatment of injured persons. People across the state are voluntarily donating blood. Due to cooperation of all, there is no shortage of blood.  

    Preservation of bodies, however, has emerged as a major challenge. AIIMS, Bhubaneswar has received 123 dead bodies and 43 have been handed over to the next of their kin after following necessary protocol and identification. 

    AIIMS executive director, Ashutosh Biswas said five containers have been procured from Paradip port to store the dead bodies for a longer period.  “As no hospital has adequate deep freezers to keep so many bodies, we have brought five containers from Paradip port. We can keep around 30 to 40 bodies in a single container,” he added. 

    Biswas said at present, AIIMS has 80 dead bodies and the identification process is on. The identification of 15 to 16 bodies has been completed and they will be handed over after completion of necessary formalities, he added.

    A DNA testing centre has also been made functional in AIIMS where family members can give samples for DNA testing and matching. The tests would help speedy identification of the victims and ensure genuine relatives get the bodies.

    BHUBANESWAR: Even as the state government started the process of identification and handing over of bodies of the deceased to the next of kin, around 100 victims are yet to be identified.

    Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena on Monday said 176 bodies (91 in Bhubaneswar and 85 in Balasore) have been identified so far and are being handed over for transfer to their destination after due process. “Arrangements for free transportation of the bodies by hearses/dead body carriers till destination have been made to help the bereaved families, who are already under a lot of trauma,” he told media persons.

    The chief secretary said arrangements have also been made to collect applications for death certificates and process the same for transportation of bodies within minimum time with the help of Balasore police, hospital authorities and municipality. The death certificates will be sent electronically or via speed post, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The state government has also issued two toll-free numbers – 18003450061/1929 – for those looking for their relatives. “People can call the numbers from anywhere in India for information on the dead and the injured,” Jena said.  

    Once they arrive in Odisha, government officials will receive them and facilitate the body identification process in an organised manner, the chief secretary said.  The Odisha government on Monday revised the injured tally in the accident from 1,175 to 1,207. While 1,207 were admitted to different government and private hospitals in the state, 1,009 have been discharged. Of the remaining 198 under treatment, one patient is in critical care. 

    The chief secretary said there is no dearth of blood for the treatment of injured persons. People across the state are voluntarily donating blood. Due to cooperation of all, there is no shortage of blood.  

    Preservation of bodies, however, has emerged as a major challenge. AIIMS, Bhubaneswar has received 123 dead bodies and 43 have been handed over to the next of their kin after following necessary protocol and identification. 

    AIIMS executive director, Ashutosh Biswas said five containers have been procured from Paradip port to store the dead bodies for a longer period.  “As no hospital has adequate deep freezers to keep so many bodies, we have brought five containers from Paradip port. We can keep around 30 to 40 bodies in a single container,” he added. 

    Biswas said at present, AIIMS has 80 dead bodies and the identification process is on. The identification of 15 to 16 bodies has been completed and they will be handed over after completion of necessary formalities, he added.

    A DNA testing centre has also been made functional in AIIMS where family members can give samples for DNA testing and matching. The tests would help speedy identification of the victims and ensure genuine relatives get the bodies.

  • ‘Renaming AIIMS will bring identity loss, demoralization to staff’: Faculty body

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Centre’s proposal to rename All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and 22 other locations has not pleased the apex institute’s faculty body.

    The Faculty Association of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (FAIMS) has expressed concern over the proposed exercise to rename all 23 AIIMS after regional heroes, freedom fighters, historical events or monuments of the area or their distinct geographical identity

    The move, which is still under discussion, was denounced by the faculty members who termed it a decision that will bring identity loss to AIIMS and will demoralize its workers.

    The faculty body has sought the opinion of its members on this issue with a response within two days.

    “We at FAIMS seek your opinion on this very important issue, so that appropriate action from the our side should be taken on this regard,” a letter addressed to the members read.

    According to FAIMS, the renaming will take away the identity and recognition from the apex institute within the country and outside.

    “Identity is linked with the name. If identity is lost, institutional recognition is lost both within the country and outside. That is why famous and established institutes have with the same names for centuries continued like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard universities,” Prof Achal Kumar Srivastava, President, FAIMS said.

    The association equated AIIMS’ brand identity with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)s and Indian Institute of Management (IIM)s and noted these institutes are not proposed for name change.

    “In India, IITs have a name recognition which gives them an institution’s identity, and there is no proposal to change it. The same is true for AIIMs. Indian Institute of Science, which celebrated its 100 years of productive life, also has not changed its name. Also, the sense of identity is so strong, that Calcutta, Bombay and Madras Universities continue with the same name even though the cities they are located in have changed names to Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai,” it said in the letter.

    NEW DELHI: The Centre’s proposal to rename All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and 22 other locations has not pleased the apex institute’s faculty body.

    The Faculty Association of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (FAIMS) has expressed concern over the proposed exercise to rename all 23 AIIMS after regional heroes, freedom fighters, historical events or monuments of the area or their distinct geographical identity

    The move, which is still under discussion, was denounced by the faculty members who termed it a decision that will bring identity loss to AIIMS and will demoralize its workers.

    The faculty body has sought the opinion of its members on this issue with a response within two days.

    “We at FAIMS seek your opinion on this very important issue, so that appropriate action from the our side should be taken on this regard,” a letter addressed to the members read.

    According to FAIMS, the renaming will take away the identity and recognition from the apex institute within the country and outside.

    “Identity is linked with the name. If identity is lost, institutional recognition is lost both within the country and outside. That is why famous and established institutes have with the same names for centuries continued like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard universities,” Prof Achal Kumar Srivastava, President, FAIMS said.

    The association equated AIIMS’ brand identity with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)s and Indian Institute of Management (IIM)s and noted these institutes are not proposed for name change.

    “In India, IITs have a name recognition which gives them an institution’s identity, and there is no proposal to change it. The same is true for AIIMs. Indian Institute of Science, which celebrated its 100 years of productive life, also has not changed its name. Also, the sense of identity is so strong, that Calcutta, Bombay and Madras Universities continue with the same name even though the cities they are located in have changed names to Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai,” it said in the letter.

  • Tertiary level centres to come up for treatment of people exposed to chemical, nuclear attacks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In a first, the Union Health Ministry has drawn up a proposal to set up two tertiary level centres for the treatment of people exposed to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents or attacks.

    It is aimed at managing medical emergencies arising out of incidents such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, Visakhapatnam HPCL refinery blast, Tughlaqabad gas leak, Kanpur ammonia gas leak and other industrial accidents, official sources told PTI.

    The detailed project report for setting up of these two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) facilities at Stanley Medical College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Jhajjar Campus, AIIMS has been readied.

    The project report has been prepared by HLL Infra Tech Services Ltd (HITES) in consultation with experts drawn from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence and other sectors like the Department of Atomic Energy as well as its affiliate organisations like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, they said.

    The two facilities are to be set up over one-and-half years at an estimated cost of Rs 230 crore.

    Each of them is expected to be a 50 bedded facility, including 16 ICU Beds, 20 isolation beds and 10 pre-and post-operation rooms.

    A bone marrow transplant centre with four beds will also be set up in these facilities.

    There will also be a decontamination shower facility comprising decontamination modules with hot, cold and chemical showers along with other necessary decontamination treatment and operation theatre.

    These facilities will also have ambulance services.

    In addition, the government is also planning to set up seven secondary-level CBRN medical management centres in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

    “The rationale behind establishing such centres is to strengthen health centres in the civilian domain with facilities to handle CBRN cases,” the official said.

    “These facilities are planned to be established in already existing health facilities, around atomic power plant establishments and major metropolitan cities vulnerable to industrial accidents and terrorist actions,” the sources added.

    NEW DELHI: In a first, the Union Health Ministry has drawn up a proposal to set up two tertiary level centres for the treatment of people exposed to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents or attacks.

    It is aimed at managing medical emergencies arising out of incidents such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, Visakhapatnam HPCL refinery blast, Tughlaqabad gas leak, Kanpur ammonia gas leak and other industrial accidents, official sources told PTI.

    The detailed project report for setting up of these two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) facilities at Stanley Medical College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Jhajjar Campus, AIIMS has been readied.

    The project report has been prepared by HLL Infra Tech Services Ltd (HITES) in consultation with experts drawn from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence and other sectors like the Department of Atomic Energy as well as its affiliate organisations like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, they said.

    The two facilities are to be set up over one-and-half years at an estimated cost of Rs 230 crore.

    Each of them is expected to be a 50 bedded facility, including 16 ICU Beds, 20 isolation beds and 10 pre-and post-operation rooms.

    A bone marrow transplant centre with four beds will also be set up in these facilities.

    There will also be a decontamination shower facility comprising decontamination modules with hot, cold and chemical showers along with other necessary decontamination treatment and operation theatre.

    These facilities will also have ambulance services.

    In addition, the government is also planning to set up seven secondary-level CBRN medical management centres in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

    “The rationale behind establishing such centres is to strengthen health centres in the civilian domain with facilities to handle CBRN cases,” the official said.

    “These facilities are planned to be established in already existing health facilities, around atomic power plant establishments and major metropolitan cities vulnerable to industrial accidents and terrorist actions,” the sources added.

  • Raju Srivastava critical, still on life support

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Popular comedian-actor Raju Srivastava, who has been in the intensive care unit of AIIMS for nine days following a heart attack, continues to be on the ventilator and is critical, sources said Thursday.

    Srivastava was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here after he suffered a heart attack on August 10.

    The 58-year-old stand-up comic underwent an angioplasty the same day. “He continues to be on life support and his health condition is critical. He has suffered brain damage. He has not yet gained consciousness,” a source told PTI.

    As worries mounted over the state of his health and some speculated that he was brain dead, his daughter Antara told PTI that “doctors are still treating him”. She said she would not be able to comment further.

    Srivastava, a stand-up comic who joined the BJP in 2014, was trending on Twitter on Thursday with many posts speculating about his health.

    Last week, Srivastava’s family released a statement on his official Instagram page, saying his condition was “stable” and requesting people to “ignore any rumour/fake news being circulated”.

    A familiar face in the entertainment industry since the 1980s, Srivastava catapulted to fame after participating in the first season of the reality stand-up comedy show “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” in 2005.

    Srivastava has also featured in Hindi films such as “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Baazigar”, the remake of “Bombay to Goa” and “Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya”. He is the chairperson of the Film Development Council Uttar Pradesh.

    NEW DELHI: Popular comedian-actor Raju Srivastava, who has been in the intensive care unit of AIIMS for nine days following a heart attack, continues to be on the ventilator and is critical, sources said Thursday.

    Srivastava was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here after he suffered a heart attack on August 10.

    The 58-year-old stand-up comic underwent an angioplasty the same day. “He continues to be on life support and his health condition is critical. He has suffered brain damage. He has not yet gained consciousness,” a source told PTI.

    As worries mounted over the state of his health and some speculated that he was brain dead, his daughter Antara told PTI that “doctors are still treating him”. She said she would not be able to comment further.

    Srivastava, a stand-up comic who joined the BJP in 2014, was trending on Twitter on Thursday with many posts speculating about his health.

    Last week, Srivastava’s family released a statement on his official Instagram page, saying his condition was “stable” and requesting people to “ignore any rumour/fake news being circulated”.

    A familiar face in the entertainment industry since the 1980s, Srivastava catapulted to fame after participating in the first season of the reality stand-up comedy show “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” in 2005.

    Srivastava has also featured in Hindi films such as “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Baazigar”, the remake of “Bombay to Goa” and “Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya”. He is the chairperson of the Film Development Council Uttar Pradesh.

  • Calcutta HC directs ED to take arrested Bengal minister to AIIMS Bhubaneswar

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Sunday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the school jobs scam, to AIIMS Bhubaneswar early on Monday by air ambulance.

    The court directed that the minister be produced before a special ED court in Kolkata through virtual mode at 4 PM on Monday.

    “The investigating agency is directed to take the accused by air ambulance to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in the early morning on 25th July, 2022,” Justice Bibek Chaudhuri directed.

    After hearing pleadings in a revision application moved by the ED challenging a lower court order sending Chatterjee to state-run SSKM Hospital after his lawyers claimed he was ill, Justice Chaudhuri directed that the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar authority will medically examine the accused by a team of specialist doctors of cardiology, nephrology, respiratory medicines and endocrinology.

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Sunday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the school jobs scam, to AIIMS Bhubaneswar early on Monday by air ambulance.

    The court directed that the minister be produced before a special ED court in Kolkata through virtual mode at 4 PM on Monday.

    “The investigating agency is directed to take the accused by air ambulance to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in the early morning on 25th July, 2022,” Justice Bibek Chaudhuri directed.

    After hearing pleadings in a revision application moved by the ED challenging a lower court order sending Chatterjee to state-run SSKM Hospital after his lawyers claimed he was ill, Justice Chaudhuri directed that the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar authority will medically examine the accused by a team of specialist doctors of cardiology, nephrology, respiratory medicines and endocrinology.

  • HC asks ED to take Bengal min to AIIMS Bhubaneswar; TMC demands time-bound probe

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Sunday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the school jobs scam, to AIIMS Bhubaneswar early on Monday by air ambulance.

    The court directed that the minister be produced before a special ED court in Kolkata through virtual mode at 4 pm on Monday.

    TMC, on the other hand, demanded a time-bound probe in the ED case against Chatterjee, asserting the party will not interfere politically if any leader has done anything wrong.

    ED also produced the senior TMC leader’s associate Arpita Mukherjee before a court, which remanded her to one-day custody of the agency.

    ED personnel raided several locations in the state on July 22 as part of their probe into the money trail involved in a teacher recruitment scam at government-sponsored and aided schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other items were allegedly recovered from Mukherjee’s residence, sources said. PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Chatterjee and Mukherjee were arrested as part of ED’s investigation into the scam.

    After hearing pleadings in a revision application moved by the ED challenging a lower court order sending Chatterjee to state-run SSKM Hospital after his lawyers claimed he was ill, Justice Chaudhuri directed, “The investigating agency is directed to take the accused by air ambulance to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in the early morning on 25th July, 2022.”

    He directed that the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar authority will medically examine the accused by a team of specialist doctors of cardiology, nephrology, respiratory medicines and endocrinology.

    ED moved the high court challenging Bankshall Court order which directed that Chatterjee, who complained of uneasiness after his arrested, be admitted to SSKM Hospital.

    The central agency also claimed that the lower court can direct adequate treatment of a person but cannot specify a particular facility. The ED moved a revision petition before the high court and sought permission for an urgent hearing during the day.

    The lower court on Saturday remanded Chatterjee to two days’ ED custody while sending him to the hospital on a prayer by his lawyers that he was unwell and needed medical treatment. Counsels for the ED claimed that Chatterjee, a senior minister in the state, is an influential person and as such should not be kept in a state-run hospital.

    Chatterjee’s lawyers opposed the prayer and said his treatment was being done appropriately at SSKM hospital. The ED suggested that Chatterjee can be treated at an AIIMS hospital which has a very good healthcare infrastructure.

    Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party has no connection with Mukherjee, in whose flat a huge amount of cash was allegedly found. “The party demands time-bound investigation in the case,” he said, maintaining that investigations by central agencies in some cases have been going on for many years.

    The CBI has been investigating the multi-crore Saradha chit fund case since 2014, while the Narada tapes case, which unfolded ahead of 2016 elections, was also yet to reach any conclusion. “Law will take its own course; the Trinamool Congress will not interfere, however big a leader gets involved in it,” Ghosh said.

    Mukherjee, who was arrested on Saturday after grilling for several hours at her posh apartment block in south Kolkata, was produced before a court.

    Metropolitan Magistrate Namrata Singh, in charge of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, directed that Mukherjee be produced before the designated ED court on Monday. ED counsels, including Abhijit Bhadra, had prayed for 14 days’ custody of Mukherjee.

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Sunday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the school jobs scam, to AIIMS Bhubaneswar early on Monday by air ambulance.

    The court directed that the minister be produced before a special ED court in Kolkata through virtual mode at 4 pm on Monday.

    TMC, on the other hand, demanded a time-bound probe in the ED case against Chatterjee, asserting the party will not interfere politically if any leader has done anything wrong.

    ED also produced the senior TMC leader’s associate Arpita Mukherjee before a court, which remanded her to one-day custody of the agency.

    ED personnel raided several locations in the state on July 22 as part of their probe into the money trail involved in a teacher recruitment scam at government-sponsored and aided schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other items were allegedly recovered from Mukherjee’s residence, sources said. PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Chatterjee and Mukherjee were arrested as part of ED’s investigation into the scam.

    After hearing pleadings in a revision application moved by the ED challenging a lower court order sending Chatterjee to state-run SSKM Hospital after his lawyers claimed he was ill, Justice Chaudhuri directed, “The investigating agency is directed to take the accused by air ambulance to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in the early morning on 25th July, 2022.”

    He directed that the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar authority will medically examine the accused by a team of specialist doctors of cardiology, nephrology, respiratory medicines and endocrinology.

    ED moved the high court challenging Bankshall Court order which directed that Chatterjee, who complained of uneasiness after his arrested, be admitted to SSKM Hospital.

    The central agency also claimed that the lower court can direct adequate treatment of a person but cannot specify a particular facility. The ED moved a revision petition before the high court and sought permission for an urgent hearing during the day.

    The lower court on Saturday remanded Chatterjee to two days’ ED custody while sending him to the hospital on a prayer by his lawyers that he was unwell and needed medical treatment. Counsels for the ED claimed that Chatterjee, a senior minister in the state, is an influential person and as such should not be kept in a state-run hospital.

    Chatterjee’s lawyers opposed the prayer and said his treatment was being done appropriately at SSKM hospital. The ED suggested that Chatterjee can be treated at an AIIMS hospital which has a very good healthcare infrastructure.

    Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party has no connection with Mukherjee, in whose flat a huge amount of cash was allegedly found. “The party demands time-bound investigation in the case,” he said, maintaining that investigations by central agencies in some cases have been going on for many years.

    The CBI has been investigating the multi-crore Saradha chit fund case since 2014, while the Narada tapes case, which unfolded ahead of 2016 elections, was also yet to reach any conclusion. “Law will take its own course; the Trinamool Congress will not interfere, however big a leader gets involved in it,” Ghosh said.

    Mukherjee, who was arrested on Saturday after grilling for several hours at her posh apartment block in south Kolkata, was produced before a court.

    Metropolitan Magistrate Namrata Singh, in charge of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, directed that Mukherjee be produced before the designated ED court on Monday. ED counsels, including Abhijit Bhadra, had prayed for 14 days’ custody of Mukherjee.

  • SC overturns Delhi HC order, allows unmarried woman to terminate pregnancy at 24 weeks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a woman cannot be denied an opportunity to terminate her pregnancy just because she is unmarried, reports said.

    The court passed an ad-interim order to allow an unmarried woman to abort her pregnancy of 24 weeks arising out of a live-in relationship, subject to a medical board constituted by the AIIMS Delhi concluding that the foetus can be aborted without risk to the life of the woman, Live Law reports.

    The court was reportedly hearing a plea by a 25-year-old unmarried woman, who questioned the Delhi High Court’s July 16 order declining her request to terminate her 24-week foetus in view of her consensual relationship.

    A bench led by Justices DY Chandrachud observed that the Delhi High Court took an “unduly restrictive” view of the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Rules while declining the woman interim relief.

    Noting that after the 2021 amendment, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act uses the word “partner” instead of “husband” in the explanation to Section 3, the Court said that this shows the legislative intent to cover “unmarried woman” under the Act.

    According to the PTI, the bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant, and AS Bopanna directed the AIIMS director to set up a medical board of two doctors to examine the woman by Friday under the provisions of the MTP Act. It asked the board to determine whether the pregnancy if terminated could risk the life of the woman or not.

    “We request the AIIMS director to constitute a medical board in terms of provisions of section 3(2)(d) MTP Act by tomorrow (Friday). In the event the medical board concludes that the foetus can be aborted without any danger to the life of the petitioner (woman), the AIIMS shall carry out the abortion in terms of the petition,” the bench said.

    The top court sought the report of the medical board within one week of the procedure and said that the order of the Delhi High Court stands modified to the above extent.

    The top court said that the woman who was in a consensual relationship in the month of June had come to know about her pregnancy and during the examination, it was found that she was 22 weeks pregnant and she decided to terminate the pregnancy.

    The Delhi high court had denied the permission to abort saying that it virtually amounts to killing the foetus.

    In an order issued on July 16, a Delhi HC bench refused to grant permission to the woman to abort the 23-week foetus, saying it is not permitted under the abortion law after 20 weeks for pregnancy arising out of a consensual relationship.

    The high court, however, sought the Centre’s response on the woman’s contention that the exclusion of unmarried women from being allowed to undergo medical termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks, was discriminatory.

    The petitioner, a 25-year-old woman, had told the court that her partner, with whom she was in a consensual relationship, had refused to marry her.

    She had stressed that giving birth outside the wedlock would cause her psychological agony as well as social stigma and she was not mentally prepared to be a mother.

    The high court, while dealing with the plea, had said the court cannot go beyond the statute while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution.

    ALSO READ | Govt notifies new rules for allowing abortion till 24 weeks of pregnancy for certain categories of women

    “The petitioner, who is an unmarried woman and whose pregnancy arises out of a consensual relationship, is clearly not covered by any of the clauses under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003,” the high court noted in its order dated July 15.

    “As of today, Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003 (which excludes unmarried women) stands, and this court, while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, cannot go beyond the statute,” it had said.

    Before passing the order, the high court had suggested that the petitioner can be kept “somewhere safe” until she delivers the child who can subsequently be given up for adoption.

    “We will ensure that the girl is kept somewhere safe and she can deliver and go. There is a big queue for adoption,” the court had said.

    After the lawyer turned down the court’s suggestion, it said that it would pass an order on the petition.

    NEW DELHI: In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a woman cannot be denied an opportunity to terminate her pregnancy just because she is unmarried, reports said.

    The court passed an ad-interim order to allow an unmarried woman to abort her pregnancy of 24 weeks arising out of a live-in relationship, subject to a medical board constituted by the AIIMS Delhi concluding that the foetus can be aborted without risk to the life of the woman, Live Law reports.

    The court was reportedly hearing a plea by a 25-year-old unmarried woman, who questioned the Delhi High Court’s July 16 order declining her request to terminate her 24-week foetus in view of her consensual relationship.

    A bench led by Justices DY Chandrachud observed that the Delhi High Court took an “unduly restrictive” view of the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Rules while declining the woman interim relief.

    Noting that after the 2021 amendment, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act uses the word “partner” instead of “husband” in the explanation to Section 3, the Court said that this shows the legislative intent to cover “unmarried woman” under the Act.

    According to the PTI, the bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant, and AS Bopanna directed the AIIMS director to set up a medical board of two doctors to examine the woman by Friday under the provisions of the MTP Act. It asked the board to determine whether the pregnancy if terminated could risk the life of the woman or not.

    “We request the AIIMS director to constitute a medical board in terms of provisions of section 3(2)(d) MTP Act by tomorrow (Friday). In the event the medical board concludes that the foetus can be aborted without any danger to the life of the petitioner (woman), the AIIMS shall carry out the abortion in terms of the petition,” the bench said.

    The top court sought the report of the medical board within one week of the procedure and said that the order of the Delhi High Court stands modified to the above extent.

    The top court said that the woman who was in a consensual relationship in the month of June had come to know about her pregnancy and during the examination, it was found that she was 22 weeks pregnant and she decided to terminate the pregnancy.

    The Delhi high court had denied the permission to abort saying that it virtually amounts to killing the foetus.

    In an order issued on July 16, a Delhi HC bench refused to grant permission to the woman to abort the 23-week foetus, saying it is not permitted under the abortion law after 20 weeks for pregnancy arising out of a consensual relationship.

    The high court, however, sought the Centre’s response on the woman’s contention that the exclusion of unmarried women from being allowed to undergo medical termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks, was discriminatory.

    The petitioner, a 25-year-old woman, had told the court that her partner, with whom she was in a consensual relationship, had refused to marry her.

    She had stressed that giving birth outside the wedlock would cause her psychological agony as well as social stigma and she was not mentally prepared to be a mother.

    The high court, while dealing with the plea, had said the court cannot go beyond the statute while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution.

    ALSO READ | Govt notifies new rules for allowing abortion till 24 weeks of pregnancy for certain categories of women

    “The petitioner, who is an unmarried woman and whose pregnancy arises out of a consensual relationship, is clearly not covered by any of the clauses under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003,” the high court noted in its order dated July 15.

    “As of today, Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003 (which excludes unmarried women) stands, and this court, while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, cannot go beyond the statute,” it had said.

    Before passing the order, the high court had suggested that the petitioner can be kept “somewhere safe” until she delivers the child who can subsequently be given up for adoption.

    “We will ensure that the girl is kept somewhere safe and she can deliver and go. There is a big queue for adoption,” the court had said.

    After the lawyer turned down the court’s suggestion, it said that it would pass an order on the petition.