News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Three teachers on poll-duty died due to COVID, not 1600: UP Minister’s claim mounts pressure on Yogi govt

    By Express News Service
    BHOPAL: A major controversy has erupted in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh after state’s Primary Education Minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi claimed that just three teachers and not 1600-plus teachers -who were deployed in recent Panchayat poll duties had died of coronavirus.

    On Wednesday, Dwivedi had said, “Some teachers bodies and opposition parties politicians are spreading misinformation about 1600-plus teachers of the Basic Shiksha Parishad having died during the panchayat poll duties. As per the report of the State Election Commission (SEC) only three teachers have died during the panchayat poll duties. The dependents of those teachers will be provided government jobs as well as Rs 30 lakh as compensation.”

    Not only have the UP Prathmik Shikshak Sangh and State Government Employees Association accused the Yogi Adityanath government of concealing the actual death figures of teachers who died of COVID, after being deployed in Panchayat poll duty. And all opposition parties, including SP, BSP and Congress too have slammed the government over the development.

    Sensing the growing pressure by the employees and teachers associations in the matter following threats by them to strike over the government observation, the UP CM Yogi Adityanath directed the state’s chief secretary and the additional chief secretary (ACS-Panchayati Raj) to discuss the matter with the SEC and find ways to compensate teachers and other state government employees, who died of COVID-19, after duties in the panchayat polls.

    “Every death is sad for us and the government is sensitive and committed to the kin of all those employees who lost their lives due to COVID. The government is with the families of all those employees, including teachers, cops and other employees, who either lost lives during the poll duty or else died after being infected with COVID during the poll duties,” the CM said in a official statement issued on Thursday.

    Reacting sharply to the minister’s statements, the Uttar Pradesh Prathmik Shikshak Sangh head, Dinesh Chandra Sharma said that 1,621 teachers and workers of the Basic Education Department have died since the first week of April following the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19. Of these 1,621 deaths, more than 90 per cent of the teachers were on panchayat election duty. He also demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation to the kin of each of the deceased teachers and state government employees, who died of COVID infection contracted during the poll duty.

    The state basic school teachers’ body head found support from the State Employees Union leader Hari Kishore Tewari, who accused the government of concealing the actual casualty figures. “In the list of Jhansi district only which has been released by DM-Jhansi on May 8, ten deaths were shown in Jhansi alone due to Covid, which proves that the government is lying.”

  • 37 doctors in UP hospitals have died of COVID-19 in second wave: Indian Medical Association

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI: Thirty-seven doctors in Uttar Pradesh hospitals have died in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic so far, the IMA in Delhi said on Tuesday.

    According to the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Uttar Pradesh unit, 54 doctors had died due to the viral disease in the first wave.

    National vice-president of the IMA and head of COVID-19 task force of the IMA’s UP unit, Ashok Rai, said 32 doctors have died in the second wave of the pandemic up to Sunday.

    “As per data available till Sunday, doctors who died due to COVID-19 in the second wave in the state include Dr Anand Tandon (Sitapur), Dr SP Mishra (Gonda), Dr Raghvendra Singh (Barabanki), Dr Akhilesh Paswan (Gorakhpur), Dr Alpana Jha (Lucknow), Dr Mohd Ashraf Ali (Rampur), Dr Swati Singh (Saharanpur),” he told PTI.

    Rai added that most of these doctors got infected while administering medical treatment to COVID-infected patients, while some senior doctors died at their residence.

    The IMA on Tuesday said 270 doctors across the country have succumbed to the coronavirus infection in the second wave of the pandemic so far.

  • Opposition triggering panic among people on COVID situation: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW/ MUZAFFARNAGAR: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday accused the opposition of mischievously trying to create an atmosphere of fear instead of increasing the confidence of people and health workers since the onset of the current second wave of COVID-19.

    Adityanath made the allegation while reviewing the COVID situation in Muzaffarnagar district and inspecting an Integrated COVID Control Room there.

    Without naming any political party, Adityanath said, “When the need was to increase the confidence of the people and health workers, some people intentionally and mischievously tried to lower their morale and create an atmosphere of fear.”

    ALSO READ| Amid downward trend in COVID cases, Yogi government prepares for third wave, black fungus infection

    This led to a panic situation, he said, adding, “Due to this, every person ran for oxygen and remdesivir. And, at one point of time, a situation of chaos prevailed. But, thanks to God, with everybody’s co-operation, the situation has been controlled and it is in complete control now.”

    There is a continuous decline in active COVID-19 cases in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government said in an official statement from Lucknow, quoting the chief minister after his Muzaffarnagar’s visit. The chief minister said that till now, nearly 4.50 crore samples for COVID-19 have been tested, while 1.50 crore people in the state have been administered vaccines. Vaccination for the people in the age group of 18-44 too has been started, he added.

    During his visit to Muzaffarnagar, Adityanath also referred to the apprehension of an impending third wave of covid and black fungus infection among the cured COVID-patents and said the government is making an all effort to tackle the twin challenge.

    Amid the fears of a third wave of the infection hitting the country which the health experts say may afflict children more, the chief minister said the government is making efforts to set up paediatric intensive care units (ICU) in every district and every medical college of the state.

    Accompanied by Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan and state minister and local MLA Kapil Dev Aggarwal, the chief minister earlier visited the Rampur village in the district and urged villagers to take utmost care against the infection.

    The chief minister visited the village amid the rising cases of coronavirus infection in rural areas of the state and appealed to the people to report to the district health authorities at the slightest hint of the contamination.

    He made a fervent plea to the villagers to get themselves inoculated against the disease besides getting tested for the infection and start treatment in time if they find themselves afflicted with the slightest symptoms of the COVID.

    While chief minister also announced the government’s decision to set up six more medical oxygen plants in Muzaffarnagar. Adityanath visited Muzaffarnagar on Monday, a day after visiting Noida during which he reviewed the Covid situation in the Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad and Meerut districts.

  • Over 4.5 cr COVID tests done, 1.5 cr people vaccinated in UP: Yogi Adityanath

    By PTI
    NOIDA: Over 4.5 crore COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Uttar Pradesh so far, while 1.5 crore people have been vaccinated for coronavirus, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday.

    The chief minister said the state did not have “much capacity” for COVID testing till March last year but is now conducting 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh tests every day.

    “On March 2, 2020, we did not have much capacity for COVID tests nor isolation beds for treatment of COVID patients in the state.

    ”With support from the Centre, the state government”s machinery along with help from various organisations, today we are conducting 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh tests every day,” Adityanath told reporters in Noida during a visit here to review the pandemic situation.

    “Over 4.5 crore COVID tests have been conducted in the state so far. The state has 80,000 hospital beds in L2 and L3 category where coronavirus positive patients can be treated,” he said.

    He said the Centre is providing vaccines for free to people above the age of 45 years while the state government is doing it for the people aged between 18 and 44 years.

    “We have so far vaccinated 1.5 crore people in the state and continue (to do so) at war-footing as per a comprehensive strategy,” Adityanath said.

    He said vaccination for people aged above 45 is being done at 2,500 centres and for the 18-plus category, the government had started the vaccination process in seven districts in the first phase where active cases and positivity rate were the highest.

    “In the second phase, we brought all municipal corporations on board and in the third phase, which starts tomorrow, we will begin vaccination at all headquarters of commissionaries. From tomorrow, vaccination will begin in 23 districts of the state,” he added.

    In the wake of suspicions being raised that the virus is spreading to rural areas, the government had implemented a comprehensive strategy for it on May 2, the chief minister said.

    “We have a monitoring team in every village. Keeping 97,000 revenue villages in focus, the monitoring teams are screening people for COVID,” he said.

    Those who are positive or show symptoms for the infection are provided medicine kit and a data is prepared of such people which is given to the Integrated COVID Control Centre (ICCC) from where rapid response team (RRT) goes to the village and conducts tests on contact persons of the patient and makes necessary arrangements for them, he added. 

  • Relatives of patient create ruckus at UP hospital

    By PTI
    AMETHI: Angry relatives of a patient who died here created ruckus at the district hospital by damaging the emergency ward and beating up doctors and health workers at the facility, officials said on Sunday.

    A case has been registered against the relatives at the Gauriganj Police Station, they said.

    Sona Devi (55), a resident of Gartholia village under Shahgarh block, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after her condition deteriorated. She was declared dead by the doctors.

    Ranjeet, brother of the deceased, alleged that his sister died because of medical negligence.

    Chief Medical Officer of Amethi Ashutosh Dubey, however, said Devi was brought dead to the hospital.

    “When the doctors said she was brought dead to the hospital, the family members got agitated and beat up the doctors and health workers,” he said.

  • Corona curfew extended in Uttar Pradesh till May 24

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government decided on Saturday to extend the partial coronavirus curfew till 7 am on May 24.

    A decision was taken at a virtual meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    Earlier, the government had decided to increase the duration of the curfew till 7 am on May 17.

    “The partial corona curfew has helped in controlling the COVID-19 spread in the state,” Adityanath said in a statement.

    “Keeping this in mind, the duration is being increased.”

    Adityanath said the state government was already providing free testing and treatment of COVID-19, as well as vaccination.

    The chief minister said the state government would provide 3-kg wheat and 2-kg rice free of cost to the holders of ‘antyodaya’ and ration card for three months.

    This will benefit almost 15 crore people of the state.

    He said daily-wage earners in urban areas would be given Rs 1,000 for one month.

    This will benefit around one crore people.

    The provision to arrange food for the needy should be done using community kitchens.

    Essential services will continue.

    Barring the basic education, online classes can resume, directions have been issued in this regard, the statement said.

    He said the state government was running two insurance schemes to give social security to all the labourers.

    This includes Rs 2 lakh insurance in case of death or disability to any labourer and a health cover up to Rs 5 lakh.

  • 14 doctors in UP resign over ‘misbehaviour’, ‘mental harassment’ by admin officers

    By PTI
    UNNAO: Fourteen doctors working at community and primary health centres in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao have tendered their resignation alleging misbehaviour and mental harassment by administration officers.

    The doctors, however, assured that they will not let their COVID-related work be affected till talks are going on with the district magistrate and the chief medical officer over the resignations.

    The fourteen doctors, who are in-charge of CHCs and PHCs here, submitted their resignation letters at the CMO office on Wednesday evening.

    They also forwarded a copy of their resignation letters to the additional chief secretary (Health), director general (Health) and other senior officers.

    “We will not fight under the banner of Provincial Medical Services (PMS) association. This is our fight. The DM and CMO misbehave with us even after we have been working in limited resources in rural areas for the past one year. Instead of cooperating, administration officers misbehave with us,” Dr Sanjiv alleged.

    “Our work is being reviewed by the sub divisional magistrate (SDM) and block development officer (BDO) level officers,” he added.

    The agitated doctors claimed that their salaries were also withheld several times.

    However, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ashutosh Kumar refuted all the claims and said all the doctors have returned to their work.

    “We don’t talk like that. We all will work together,” Kumar said.

    Meanwhile, the doctors said they will decide on the future course of action after meeting the chief medical officer and the district magistrate in the evening.

  • Uttar Pradesh govt using unethical ways to hide failures in managing COVID situation, says Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Wednesday said the Uttar Pradesh government, which claims that the World Health Organization (WHO) has lauded its COVID-19 management, has not hesitated from using unethical ways to hide its “failures”.

    In a statement issued here, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP government, which has “fudged” the figure of COVID casualties, is not even pained by the sight of bodies flowing in the Ganga and patients dying at the doorstep of hospitals.

    “It would have been better had the chief minister informed us as regards when the poor people will be vaccinated and when action will be taken against those indulging in hoarding and black-marketing of oxygen cylinders, injections and medicines,” he said.

    The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said if the state government cannot provide free COVID vaccines to all, then after coming to power in 2022, the SP will inoculate everyone in the state for free.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the WHO has praised the efforts of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh in tackling the pandemic.

    “You may or may not have seen today’s news. The World Health Organization has praised the work of the Uttar Pradesh government. It is not a small thing,” Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, had said here.

    In a tweet on Monday, the WHO said, “In #India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh, the state gov. has initiated house-to-house active case-finding of #COVID19 in rural areas to contain transmission by testing people with symptoms for rapid isolation, disease management & contact tracing.”

    SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha, who hails from Varanasi, said, “The BJP government has miserably failed in managing the COVID situation in the state. Black-marketing of Remdesivir injections is rampant. The demand for ‘kafan’ (a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead body) is currently higher than that for clothes in Varanasi. People are even paying bribes at the crematoria to expedite the last rites of their near and dear ones.”

    Congress leader from Mathura Pradeep Mathur told PTI that when the elected public representatives are finding it difficult to get beds in hospitals, the plight of the common man is easily imaginable.

    “The BJP government has failed and it must relinquish the office,” he said.

  • Uttar Pradesh: Video of rape victim’s father, brother being beaten goes viral, case registered

    By PTI
    AGRA: A case was registered on Wednesday against eight people, who could be seen thrashing a rape victim’s father and brother with sticks in a viral video, police said here, adding one of the accused was arrested.

    The video shows the two being attacked on the banks of Yamuna river.

    The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at Balkeshwar Ghat under Kamla Nagar Police Station, police said.

    The victims, aged 45 and 20, were being treated at Sarojani Naidu Medical College and Hospital.

    Two of the accused in the viral video were identified as Rahul and Jogendra, who are named in the rape case of the 45-year-old’s daughter.

    They are out on bail, police said, adding the rape survivor was a minor when she was assaulted.

    The accused attacked her father and brother after they refused to accept a compromise, they added.

    Superintendent of Police, Agra, Botre Rohan Pramod told reporters that the arrested accused was identified as Vikas Gautam and efforts were on to nab the other seven.

  • Seven more bodies seen floating in Ganga in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia; total count 52

    By PTI
    bALLIA: With seven more bodies seen floating in the Ganga, the count of bodies found in this Uttar Pradesh district has reached 52, an official said on Wednesday.

    The district administration is immediately performing the last rites of the deceased as there is a possibility that they had contracted COVID-19.

    According to Ballia residents, at least 45 bodies were seen floating near the Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli ghats in the Narahi area on Tuesday evening.

    Late on Tuesday night, seven more bodies were found, taking the total count of bodies to 52, an official said.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, District Magistrate Aditi Singh had said some bodies in a decomposed condition were seen floating under the Ballia-Buxar bridge.

    She said Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Rajesh Yadav and Circle Officer Jagveer Singh Chauhan are probing the matter and the last rites of the deceased were performed with due respect.

    “The last rites of the deceased were performed on Tuesday itself. We are trying to find out where did the bodies come from. Seeing the flow of the river, it seems that they came from Buxar and other parts of Bihar,” Yadav told PTI on Wednesday.

    Although Buxar is downstream to Ballia, there is a possibility that the bodies came from Buxar, he said.

    “The distance between the Bharauli and Ujiyar ghats in the Narahi police station area of Ballia, and the ghat in Buxar is around one kilometre. The direction of wind over the river is towards Ballia,” the SDM said.

    A police official said the administration is immediately performing the last rites of the dead as there is a possibility that they were infected with the coronavirus.