News Analysis India

Tag: Centre

  • India to roll out first cervical cancer vaccine by year-end

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The Centre plans to roll out India’s first Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV), manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), against cervical cancer as part of the national immunisation programme by this year-end.“The vaccine will probably be rolled out in the third or fourth quarter of this year. We will introduce it in the immunisation programme,” said Dr N K Arora, head of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). “It will be introduced for children as part of a routine immunisation programme,” he added.

    The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI), which had allowed the company to start manufacturing the vaccine on July 6, recommended market authorisation to SII on July 12. The drug controller based its approval following a recommendation by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Covid-19 on June 15.

    Before the DCGI approval, the NTAGI on June 29 had given its nod to the vaccine after going through the data. The recommendation came after a HPV working group of NTAGI had on June 8 reviewed the clinical trial data. Cervical cancer kills one woman in every eight minutes in India, with the country accounting for about a fifth of the global burden and 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO). The vaccine, Cervavac, is based on VLP (virus-like particles), similar to the Hepatitis B vaccine, and protects by generating antibodies against the HPV virus L1  protein.

    The trials for the vaccine started in 2019 and thousands of participants in the age-group of 9‐26 years were part of the trials across India. Phase III results showed a robust immune response in 100 per cent of the vaccine recipients with good safety records. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is now a well‐established cause of cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 are most common and are responsible for about 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases worldwide. The vaccine is said to be effective against four strains of the virus — Type 6, Type 11, Type 16 and Type 18.

    Dr Manas Chakrabarti, consultant Onco-Gynaecologist, Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake, Kolkata, said national HPV vaccination is one of the single most important developments in Indian medical history and a milestone in preventing cervical cancer. A national vaccination drive will benefit a large section of women, he added.  Currently, two vaccines licensed globally are available in India – a quadrivalent vaccine, Gardasil, from Merck, and a bivalent vaccine, Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline. However, both are costly, he added.

    Describing indigenously-developed first qHPV against cervical cancer as “much awaited”, Dr Mahua Bhattacharya, Consultant Gynaecologist, Fortis Kolkata, said it would “be highly accepted considering the population profile and infection burden of India. This will surely significantly reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer.” Cervical cancer is preventable if it is detected early and managed properly, she added. Though HPV vaccination has been licensed for use in India since 2008, it is yet to be included in the national immunisation programme, according to officials.

    ‘TAKE JAB RATE TO PRE-COVID TIME’The World Health Organisation on Saturday called for more significant steps in the South-East Asia Region to revive regular immunisation rates to pre-Covid times, stressing that despite concerted efforts by countries, challenges and gaps persist. Highlighting India’s routine immunisation, the WHO said that decline was witnessed in 2020. However, it added that in 2021, India provided close to 2 billion doses of Covid-19 and other childhood vaccines taken together, over five times more vaccines administered in the country during the year than in 2020. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO S-E Asia, commended the region for administering a billion doses since January 2021. “As we focus on further scaling up Covid-19 vaccination coverage, we must also do all we can to ensure no child is deprived of life-saving vaccines offered under routine immunisation services,” she added.

    NEW DELHI:  The Centre plans to roll out India’s first Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV), manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), against cervical cancer as part of the national immunisation programme by this year-end.“The vaccine will probably be rolled out in the third or fourth quarter of this year. We will introduce it in the immunisation programme,” said Dr N K Arora, head of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). “It will be introduced for children as part of a routine immunisation programme,” he added.

    The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI), which had allowed the company to start manufacturing the vaccine on July 6, recommended market authorisation to SII on July 12. The drug controller based its approval following a recommendation by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Covid-19 on June 15.

    Before the DCGI approval, the NTAGI on June 29 had given its nod to the vaccine after going through the data. The recommendation came after a HPV working group of NTAGI had on June 8 reviewed the clinical trial data. Cervical cancer kills one woman in every eight minutes in India, with the country accounting for about a fifth of the global burden and 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO). The vaccine, Cervavac, is based on VLP (virus-like particles), similar to the Hepatitis B vaccine, and protects by generating antibodies against the HPV virus L1  protein.

    The trials for the vaccine started in 2019 and thousands of participants in the age-group of 9‐26 years were part of the trials across India. Phase III results showed a robust immune response in 100 per cent of the vaccine recipients with good safety records. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is now a well‐established cause of cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 are most common and are responsible for about 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases worldwide. The vaccine is said to be effective against four strains of the virus — Type 6, Type 11, Type 16 and Type 18.

    Dr Manas Chakrabarti, consultant Onco-Gynaecologist, Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake, Kolkata, said national HPV vaccination is one of the single most important developments in Indian medical history and a milestone in preventing cervical cancer. A national vaccination drive will benefit a large section of women, he added.  Currently, two vaccines licensed globally are available in India – a quadrivalent vaccine, Gardasil, from Merck, and a bivalent vaccine, Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline. However, both are costly, he added.

    Describing indigenously-developed first qHPV against cervical cancer as “much awaited”, Dr Mahua Bhattacharya, Consultant Gynaecologist, Fortis Kolkata, said it would “be highly accepted considering the population profile and infection burden of India. This will surely significantly reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer.” Cervical cancer is preventable if it is detected early and managed properly, she added. Though HPV vaccination has been licensed for use in India since 2008, it is yet to be included in the national immunisation programme, according to officials.

    ‘TAKE JAB RATE TO PRE-COVID TIME’
    The World Health Organisation on Saturday called for more significant steps in the South-East Asia Region to revive regular immunisation rates to pre-Covid times, stressing that despite concerted efforts by countries, challenges and gaps persist. Highlighting India’s routine immunisation, the WHO said that decline was witnessed in 2020. However, it added that in 2021, India provided close to 2 billion doses of Covid-19 and other childhood vaccines taken together, over five times more vaccines administered in the country during the year than in 2020. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO S-E Asia, commended the region for administering a billion doses since January 2021. “As we focus on further scaling up Covid-19 vaccination coverage, we must also do all we can to ensure no child is deprived of life-saving vaccines offered under routine immunisation services,” she added.

  • Bengal govt pauses rural job scheme as Centre holds funds

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA:  In an unprecedented move, the West Bengal government has decided to press an indefinite pause button on the rural job guarantee scheme in the state as the Centre is yet to approve its labour budget for 2022-23 fiscal. Officials in the districts have been asked not to initiate any work under the MGNREGA.

    Sources in Nabanna, the state secretariat, said the decision was followed by the Centre’s decision to withhold the release of Rs 6,500 crore under the MGNREGA after a national-level monitoring team had raised questions over the way funds had been spent in some areas and the state government’s answers were not satisfactory.

    The TMC government’s decision of stalling the works under the scheme is said to be significant as the state will go to panchayat elections next year and the scheme benefits the voters in rural Bengal. Earlier, the state government used to allow the MGNREGA works even if there were delays in the approval of the labour budget by the Centre.

    “This is because the Centre had never stopped the fund flow under the scheme. But this time the unprecedented decision has been taken because the state is not in a position to afford the risk of launching work under the MGNREGA as there is a realisation that the Centre is unlikely to release the funds in near future,” said the official.

    The state government’s decision has already been communicated to the district magistrates who are sending messages to the block development officers (BDOs). “You are requested to proceed very slowly as the labour budget for this FY is yet to be approved. You are again requested not to approve any material-based scheme until further communication,” a message to a BDO reads.

     While the Centre pays the entire wage bill for the people employed under the MGNREGA, the state bears 25 per cent of the material cost of the project under the job scheme.

  • Digital skilling programme launched for one crore students from Class 7 to graduation

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday launched a digital skilling programme for one crore students from Class 7 to graduation with the focus on skilling, reskilling and upskilling them via internships, apprenticeships and employment in emerging technologies.

    Launching the programme, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that skilling should be a mass movement. “Government functions as a facilitator in creating a workforce for the future. It is the right time to work with a collaborative approach between industry, academia and policymakers,” he said.

    Calling upon tech companies to synergise technology with all Indian languages, the minister said India has to cater to the workforce requirement of the world, and technology will enable us to do so. 

    Over 100 technology, corporate and manufacturing firms have already come on board the platform to provide free-of-cost emerging technology certifications.

    The program is to connect the suitable candidates with skill trainers and various courses providing expertise on emerging technologies. It includes artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, data analytics, cyber security, and cloud computing.

    Pradhan said it is the first-ever collaboration on a national scale between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Skill and affiliated National Skill Development Corporation, Skill India programs (National Educational Alliance for Technology) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). 

  • Carry out safety audit of all ropeway projects: MHA to states and UTs

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Deoghar ropeway accident, the Centre on Tuesday asked all states to carry out a safety audit of each ropeway project and put in place standard operating procedures to deal with such emergencies.

    In a communication to all states and Union territories, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also said that for each ropeway project, a maintenance manual and programme must be in place so that the safety standards conform to good industry practices and such incidents do not recur.

    The entity operating the ropeways must maintain a record of all the activities undertaken as part of the maintenance programme, he said in the communication.

    “The state government must engage an experienced and qualified firm or organisation for carrying out a safety audit of each ropeway project. The entity operating the ropeway must comply with all the issues arising out of the audit,” the communication said.

    Three people were killed while being rescued from cable cars in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district after the ropeway connecting a hill malfunctioned on Sunday afternoon.

    The home secretary said BIS standards prescribed for the operation and maintenance of ropeway projects need to be scrupulously adhered to.

    He said the necessary guidance in this regard may be taken from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), which is the nodal organisation under the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways, Government of India.

    Asking the states and union territories to review the condition of all the ropeway projects in their respective state, Bhalla said SOPs and contingency plans for operation and maintenance of ropeways, and system of safety audits must be put in place.

    “It should also be ensured that mock drills, mock exercises for handling contingency situations involving ropeways are periodically conducted,” he said.

    The home secretary advised the states and UTs to designate a senior officer of an appropriate level to regularly review the preparedness measures in respect of ropeway operations as per the SOPs and contingency plan.

    The mishap in Trikut Hills in Deoghar in Jharkhand occurred on April 10, leaving 18 trollies carrying over 60 people stranded in the air.

    After the efforts made by Indian Air Force, NDRF, Indian Army, ITBP, and local administration, the trapped people were rescued.

    However, three lives were lost during the rescue operation.

    “This incident has highlighted the need to have a detailed SOP and a contingency plan on ropeway operations, so as to prevent the occurrence of any such incident in the future,” the communication said.

  • Closely following Covid trajectory globally: Government

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Noting that various mathematical models meant for predicting coronavirus waves have repeatedly failed to give reliable results due to a small sample size, the Centre on Tuesday said it is closely following the virus trajectory globally, given the emergence of its new variants.

    In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar further said the network of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) of laboratories is undertaking whole genome sequencing of samples for a timely detection of the mutant variants of the virus.

    On whether researches at the Indian institutes of technology (IITs) have predicted a fourth wave of the pandemic in the country between June and August, she said the IIT Kanpur has clarified that it has not forecast a fourth wave of COVID-19.

    It is an independent study conducted by a team of researchers from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the institute that has prepared a mathematical model and submitted the same to a pre-print server for experts to comment. The same is not peer-reviewed, Pawar said.

    Modelling studies are based on a certain set of inputs either based on real-world scenarios or approximations of those inputs that are not available (which may vary in accuracy according to the technique used), she stated.

    “Often these studies involve taking a relatively small actual sample and extrapolating the result to the entire population. While this may achieve near accurate results for a small homogenous country or region, such techniques have failed repeatedly to give reliable results for a large, diverse population,” the minister said.

    “Given the emergence of variants of COVID-19 virus with variable transmissibility and other public health implications, Union Ministry of Health is closely following COVID-19 trajectory globally and in the country, along with various expert committees,” she added.

    Listing the preparatory steps, Pawar said the ministry provides the requisite technical and financial support to the states and Union territories to enhance preparedness and response capacities against Covid and other public health emergencies.

    Funding support has been provided to the states for health system strengthening to meet any exigency due to a resurgence of cases in the country through the National Health Mission (NHM), the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Emergency COVID-19 Response and Preparedness packages.

    Regular review meetings are undertaken with all the relevant stakeholders, including subject experts and the states, to review the preparedness and response measures to address the pandemic, following the five-fold strategy of test-tack-treat-vaccinate and adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour, the minister said.

  • SC asks Centre to clear its stand on legality of Cryptocurrency trade in India

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to make its stand clear on whether cryptocurrency trade involving Bitcoin or any other such currencies is legal in India or not.

    A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, which was dealing with a case related to the quashing of multiple FIRs registered against one Ajay Bhardwaj and others for allegedly duping investors across India by inducing them to trade in Bitcoin and assuring them high returns, said that the accused were booked for their involvement in Bitcoin trade.

    The bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for Centre and Enforcement Directorate, “We want you to tell us on affidavit whether cryptocurrency trade involving Bitcoin or any other such currencies is legal in India or not? What is the regime for Bitcoin trade at present?” Bhati said she would file an affidavit on the legality of the cryptocurrency trade and added that the accused, who is seeking quashing of proceedings, has not been cooperating with the investigating agency after being granted bail by the court in 2019.

    She said that 47 FIRs have been registered against the accused of duping people across the country and the issue involves a trade of 87,000 Bitcoin worth Rs 20,000 crore.

    The bench ordered, “We direct the petitioner to appear before the investigating officer of Directorate of Enforcement within two days and thereafter cooperate with the investigation as and when called upon to do so. The investigating officer shall file a fresh status report before this court on or before four weeks, indicating the progress of the investigation and whether there has been any cooperation on the part of the accused. List after four weeks.”

    The bench said the ad-interim order restraining the arrest of Bhardwaj shall continue till the next date of listing of the matter.

    At the outset, Advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for one of FIR informant Vipin Kohli, said that he has filed an application seeking cancellation of bail granted to Bhardwaj on the ground that he has not disclosed true facts of the matter to this court and concealed material in his writ petition thereby misleading this court.

    The advocate said that Bhardwaj has deliberately suppressed the fact that Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Patiala House Court through court notice had issued a proclamation requiring the appearance of the accused under section 82 of Criminal Procedure Code.

    “These material facts were not disclosed to the court when the bail was granted to him. Hence, we are seeking cancellation of bail granted to the petitioner,” Alam submitted. He said that after the grant of bail to the accused, the complainant was attacked in a hotel, which is on CCTV cameras.

    The bench asked whether the grant of bail to other accused has been challenged to which the advocate replied in affirmative.

    Bhati said that even the co-accused, who have also been granted bail are also not cooperating in the matter.

    The bench noted in its order that a status report has been filed in July 2021 by the Assistant Director of Enforcement Directorate and Bhati has submitted that the accused has not cooperated in the course of the investigation.

    It noted that there is an allegation of collection of 87,000 Bitcoins (valued at approximately Rs 20,000 crores) and prayer is being made that the ad-interim order granting an interim stay of arrest be vacated.

    The bench made it clear that it is testing the petitioner Bhardwaj and asked him to cooperate in the investigation and for now, it is not vacating the protection from arrest.

    The allegation against Bhardwaj is that he along with other co-accused, who are mostly his family members, had induced investors to invest in Bitcoin through a “multi-level marketing scheme” on false promises of securing to the investors a 10 per cent assured monthly returns for 18 months that is total of 180 percent profit.

    It was alleged that due to the dishonest inducement, the customers invested their Bitcoins in the said business, but after making an investment they did not get the assured returns.

    The FIRs also said that to escape from inevitable punishment under the law, Bhardwaj and other co-accused persons collectively, in a dishonest manner and with the deliberate intention of destroying all the evidence shut down the fake ‘gainbitcoin’ website through which investors made the investment.

  • No important docu on WhatsApp, no use of smartphones in meetings: Centre’s new guidelines

    All ministries have been asked to take 'urgent steps' to prevent such violations and to follow the communication security policies and guidelines strictly.

  • Students claim NEET exam not applicable for AYUSH courses, HC issues notice

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI:  A group of students on Monday approached the Delhi High Court claiming that AYUSH courses cannot come under National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) as the examination is restricted to Modern Scientific medicine and does not include traditional medicine courses.

    Seeking the stand of the Centre and National Testing Agency in this regard, a division bench headed by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice on the plea filed by six AYUSH aspirants.

    Further, the court said it will hear the matter on March 30 along with another plea filed by a group of Allopathic doctors who have moved the Court against allowing AYUSH practitioners to perform some surgeries. It also asked Centre’s counsel Monika Arora to furnish details of allopathic doctors’ plea.

    During the course of the hearing, the court also remarked that there is a double standard in the plea. “On a lighter side, you on one hand are saying you are competitive. But when asked to appear in NEET, you are saying we are not,” the court said while listing both the matters for the next hearing.

    In the AYUSH aspirants’ petition, it was contended that their courses operate differently and they are fundamentally different from Medical Institutions that grant degrees, diplomas, or licenses in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, or Homoeopathy medicines.

    They also said that the common entrance test is not structured to take into account the eligibility criteria for admission to AYUSH courses.

    Claiming that NEET for AYUSH courses is in violation of Article 14 which provides equality before the law or equal protection of the laws, the aspirants said they are not against the entrance test system but against NEET for taking admission to AYUSH courses–Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa Rigpa.

  • Centre advises poll-bound states to speedily ramp up COVID19 vaccination 

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday advised the poll-bound states to speedily ramp up the COVID19 vaccination of all eligible populations for the first dose and ensure that those who were due for the second dose are administered the second dose.

    The poll-bound states were also advised to exponentially increase the testing to ensure that the infected cases are identified promptly for timely initiation of public health response measures, and to ensure that there is no sudden upsurge in numbers due to low testing.

    The state authorities were strongly advised to ensure that recommended COVID Appropriate Behavior is strictly followed and adequate measures are undertaken for their effective enforcement, according to a statement issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a high level meeting with the five poll bound states of Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to review the public health response measures for containment and management of COVID19, and the vaccination status in these states.

    While Uttarakhand and Goa have reported vaccination coverage for the first and second doses higher than the national average, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur have COVID19 vaccination coverage numbers below the national average. A total of 142.38 crore vaccination doses have been administered as on date, of which more than 83.80 crore vaccine doses are for the first dose and more than 58.58 crore are second doses of COVID19 vaccine.

  • Remain cautious till farm laws repealed: Punjab Chief Minister Channi to farmers

    By PTI

    BATALA: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday asked farmers to be cautious till the Centre’s farm laws are repealed, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just made an announcement on it.

    The PM on Friday had announced that his government had decided to repeal the three farm laws, which were at the centre of protests by farmers for the past year.

    “Prime minister Narendra Modi has just made an announcement regarding repealing of farm laws and Punjabis especially farmers need to be cautious until the farm laws are formally repealed,” said Channi after laying the foundation stone of a sugar mill here, according to an official release.

    Channi on Saturday said conspiracies are being hatched to derail progress and prosperity of Punjab, adding that those who are welcoming the announcement of the PM are a part of this.

    He said repealing of laws is baseless until the guarantee of minimum support price for crops is not given.

    ​ALSO READ | Gather in large numbers at protest sites on 1st anniversary of agitation on November 26: SKM to farmers

    “The Punjabis must not sit idle but have to be extra vigilant until the entire process is completed,” he said.

    Attacking those who are welcoming the PM’s announcement, Channi asked them to explain the reason to rejoice as Punjab has lost more than 700 sons and daughters during the struggle.

    He said it is shameful that for the sake of their “vested political interests” some political leaders are bent on sacrificing the interests of the state.

    Channi said state government will construct a memorial to those who died during the course of the agitation.

    Channi also accused the Shiromani Akali Dal of being the “chief architect” of the laws, saying they had brought one such bill in thr Punjab Assembly, which became basis for the Union government to introduce the laws now.

    He alleged that the Akalis were “hand in glove” with the BJP in bringing the “draconian laws”.

    The CM said an “elite and unholy nexus” of politicians across party line had excluded power from common man just to “loot” Punjab.

    He said now this nexus has been broken and the power is with the common man.

    ​ALSO READ | Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, along with ministers, visits Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan

    Channi claimed that the backbone of transport mafia allegedly operated by the Badals has been broken.

    Now, permits of buses will be given to jobless youth for making them gainfully self-employed, he stated.

    Now, it is the turn of the cable mafia and things will be streamlined, he said.

    At Beas in Amritsar, Channi dedicated a state-of-the-art building of newly constructed sub-tehsil complex.

    Channi said the role of religious organisations in state’s holistic development had always been remained commendable.

    Expressing gratitude to Radha Soami Satsang Beas for creating such a modern infrastructure, Channi said now more than 70,000 residents of nearly 30 villages would be directly benefitted from this facility.

    He said the complex would ensure the delivery of administrative works and requisite documents including registration of land.

    Radha Soami Satsang Beas has donated a newly built Sub Tehsil Office to the government of Punjab.

    The fully furnished complex has a total 34 rooms, including court rooms of sub tehsildar.