Complaints under PC&PNDT Act to be dealt with strictly: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur presided over a meeting of Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Test (PC & PNDT), here today. He said that the State Government has taken various initiatives to control sex determination which had resulted in major improvement in the State. The State Government has providing incentive money of Rs. 35000 to people adopting family planning after birth of one girl child and Rs. 25000 after birth of two girls child. He said that beside this various schemes had also been launched for encouragement of girl education.

The Health Minister said that surveillance of ultra sound machines in the State were being conducted but the possibility of the misuse of the machines in private clinics could also not be ignored. He said that the State Government was planning to install Active Tracking Device in these machines and in the first phase a pilot project would be started at Kangra. These tracking devices would be installed in a phased  manner in all government and private ultra sound machines in the State. The Minister instructed the senior specialist doctors to create a committee for identifying the pros and cons of these devices and to present the report within three months.

Thakur instructed all the Chief Medical Officers, Block Medical Officers and other officers of the department for regular inspection of the ultra sound machines in their respective areas. He said that the State Government had increased the reward amount for information of practicing of female foeticide and sex determination test had been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs one lakh.
The Minister said that for operation of the ultra sound machine an eligible candidate should be deployed, having a diploma or a degree for operating these machines. He urged the officers of the department to take up the matter with Indian Medical Council regarding the same.

He said a massive awareness campaign would be launched to spread awareness regarding sex determination and female foeticide, in which participation of PRIs, NGOs and Asha workers would be ensured. He said the funds for such campaigns have already been released.

Director Health B.S. Thakur, Former MLA Krishna Mohini, CMOs of all districts, Health Safety and Regulatory officers and Non official members of the board were also present in the meeting.

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Kaul Singh urges for carrying out settlement work through satellite

Health and Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur has demanded the Government of India to carry out the ongoing settlement work in the State through satellite keeping in view the tough geographical conditions. He raised this demand with the Union Rural Development Minister Birender Chaudhary at New Delhi today.

He apprised the Union Minister that the settlement work in this hilly State was being carried out in a traditional manner and there were possibilities of error which causes problems to the people. Therefore, keeping in view the difficult topographical conditions of the State, this work should be completed through satellite. He also requested that the expenditure on this work be borne by the Central Government and State Government in the ratio of 90:10 respectively.

The Minister informed that at present the settlement work was being carried out in selected villages of Sirmaur, Mandi and Kangra districts on trial basis.

Kaul Singh Thakur also raised the issue of release of insufficient amount under MNREGA to the State adding that the remaining amount should be released at the earliest so that the pace of development could be maintained besides providing the employment avenues to the needy persons.

He said the Union Government had also cut down the financial assistance to the State under PMGSY. He urged for approval of detailed project reports (DPRs) of various road projects lying pending with the Central Government.

The Minister informed the State had suffered a loss of around Rs.7000 crore due to damage to roads and agricultural crops during current monsoon. The State would soon submit a memorandum in this regard to the Union Government.

Birender Chaudhary assured of all possible financial assistance to the State. He also assured that the pending DPRs of all road projects of the State would be given approval at the earliest.

About Rs. 600 crore loss assessed due to incessant rains : Revenue Minister

Giving details about the loss suffered by the State due to heavy rains lately and particularly incessant rains on 14th and 15th of August, 2014 coupled with flashfloods, cloudbursts and landslides at many places, Revenue Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that as may as 33 human lives and around 610 animals were perished besides heavy damages caused to public and private property were reported from several parts of the state.

He said that the approximate loss assessed so far was Rs. 600 crore and the exact details of loss was being assessed. The Minister said that memorandum of the losses based on the damage reports were being prepared and would be sent to Government of India shortly for seeking central assistance.

He further informed that rainfall in the State as a whole was 140 % to 204% above normal during the above two days. The worst affected districts are Mandi and Hamirpur, besides districts of Kangra, Kullu, Bilaspur, Kinnaur, Sirmaur and Solan also suffered heavy losses and many roads and houses were damaged due to landslides in these districts too.  Apart from this few bridges were also washed away, he said.

To deal with the situation, State Emergency Operation Center had been set up at State Headquarters.  Apart from this, District Emergency Operation Centre’s had been set up in each district and were made fully functional for better coordination in case of any eventuality, he said.

All the Additional District Magistrates have been appointed as Nodal Officers (Disaster Management). The Telephone numbers of all the Nodal Officers were also advertised through leading Hindi as well as English newspapers, said the Minister.  He said that Rs. 1.15 Crore have been released for the creation of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in the State. During the year 2013-14, a sum of Rs. 293.00 crore was allocated to the districts and departments for providing immediate relief, rehabilitation, repair and restoration of damaged works and maintenance of public property.

The minister further stated that adequate funds have been provided to Deputy Commissioners, department of PWD, IPH, Power and Agriculture for carrying out relief works. So far an amount of Rs. 76.50 Crore has been released.  He said that more assistance would be given further as per the demand. Relief is being disbursed strictly in accordance with the norms laid down in the Disaster Management & Relief Manual, 2012 which was prepared by the previous BJP Government. He said that in a way the leaders of the BJP were criticizing their own norms through media.  The present Government has, in fact, liberalized the norms and enhanced the quantum of relief where necessary. The BJP Government had also gone to the extent of denying ex-gratia to the next of kin in case of Non-Himachalis, a step which was insensitive and against humanitarianism.

The Minister further clarified that Memorandum of Losses would be submitted to the Central Government only after detailed survey and assessment; and not as a knee jerk reaction to a situation.

Zero New-Zero Discrimination and Zero Death due to HIV/AIDS: Kaul

The State Government has adopted ‘Zero New-Zero Discrimination and Zero Death due to HIV/AIDS’ for this year. Disclosing this here today, Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that the State Government had envisioned that every person living with HIV had assess to quality care and was to be treated with dignity. Effective prevention, care and support for HIV/ AIDS was possible in an environment where human rights were respected and those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS live a life without stigma and discrimination.

He said that the State Government was committed to contain the spread of HIV by building an all-encompassing response, reaching out to diverse population. Besides, need to make the people aware, motivated, equipped and empowered with knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS so that they can protect themselves from the impact of HIV.

Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that the State Government was implementing many schemes for people living with HIV/AIDS and their children.

The travel fare was being provided to such patients living with HIV/AIDS and one attendant for coming to Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centres for treatment. Besides, milk powder to infants of HIV positive mother on advice of physician was being provided.

Health Minister said that financial assistance was being provided to orphans/children of HIV/AIDS victims, Between 0-18 years Rs. 300 per month, upto three years children, Rs. 400 per month, upto four to six years, Rs. 500 per month, upto seven to nine years, Rs. 600 per month, upto 10 to 12 years, Rs. 700 per month, for 13 to 15 years and Rs. 800 per month, for 16 to 18 years.

Shri Thakur said that ART was also being provided free of cost at ART Centres besides various Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities like folk campaign, hoardings, involvement of mass media to spread awareness and mainstreaming of persons was being done from time to time. He said that more than 104550 persons had been counseled for HIV in Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) and 104410 were tested for HIV in ICTCs during 2013-14. Till now, 30561 pregnant women had been counseled for HIV in ICTCs and 30102 pregnant women were tested for HIV.

He said that 18 blood banks had been set up in the State and 18081 units blood were collected besides 13461 voluntary blood donations under the AIDS Control Programmes during 2013-14. Shri Thakur said that during the year 2013-14, 16376 calls were received for tele counseling on toll free number 1299 under the AIDS Control Programme.

He said that 45 Integrated Counselling Centres were providing free counseling and testing facility to general population and pregnant women. Besides, two mobile ICTC Vans had been pressed into service for covering all hard areas to reach where testing facility was not available. He said that facility of three blood component separation units for preparing components from whole blood, one blood donation mobile van, four blood transportation vans had been provided in the State besides, 34 targetted intervention projects for involvement of NGOs in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in high risk group.

Delegation of State Government visits Sweden

Health & Family Welfare Minister, Shri Kaul Singh Thakur led a high level delegation of officials from the Department of Health & Family Welfare to Sweden for a Study visit to explore strengthening of partnerships between the State of Himachal and Swedish counterparts. The visit was on the invite of the University of Lund, Sweden. All costs of the visit were borne by the Swedish side.

University of Lund is the second largest university in Sweden with over thirty thousand students and is in partnership with a number of States in India for providing technical cooperation. The university is already in a tripartite agreement with the State to improve the health services for the adolescents and youth of the State. As part of the agreement the university has been training medics & para medics in Himachal in the districts of Mandi, Chamba and Shimla.

During the visit the delegation interacted with Swedish public officials both at National and Provincial level. The delegation also visited a number of health facilities including the Swedish Institute of Public Health, Institute of Communicable Disease, Primary health facilities and a Youth Clinic. The purpose of these field visits was to learn about the efficacy of various health services being run by the Swedish government for it’s citizens and in particular for the adolescent & young population.

The delegation met the Swedish Ambassador for Global Health, in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr Anders Nordstrӧm who informed the Hon’ble minister about the International Training Programme being run by funds provided by the Govt of Sweden and various other initiatives of the Swedish government in areas of health. The visit was followed by talks with Swedish International Development Agency representatives, led by Dr. Isa Hӓstad, the Dy Director General SIDA.

During these visits Shri Kaul Singh Thakur highlighted the achievements of the State of Himachal in areas of health and sought a deepening of relationship between the two sides in areas of health care. The Swedish side assured the Minister of proactive action on their part.

The delegation also met Dr Johan Carlsson, the Director General of the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control as well as Dr Monica Idestrӧm, the Head of the unit for Coordination of HIV& STI Prevention, Sweden. Ideas regarding control of communicable diseases as well as STIs were discussed .The Swedish side briefed the minister on the on-going work on overuse of antibiotics. Hon’ble Minister offered that the State of Himachal would be willing to work on a project which could assess the use of antibiotics in the health systems in Himachal Pradesh.

The delegation also met representatives of Skӑne Regional Council in the city of Malmӧ,Sweden.The Swedish side was led by Ms Birgitta Sӧdertun Chairperson for Public Health of Skӑne Regional Council (equivalent to the rank of State Health Minister). Head of Public Health, Ms Elisabeth Bengtsson was also present. Avenues of partnership between the two regional governments in areas of health were discussed.

The delegation also met the Vice Chancellor Lund University Prof. Per Eriksson . The progress of the existing agreement and avenues for future cooperation between the university and the State of Himachal were discussed.

Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that the visit was a success in terms of exchange of ideas and issues related to the health sector. He said that an analysis of good practices in Sweden would be made and efforts made to implement the same in the State of Himachal.

The Minister was accompanied by the Principal Secretary Health and Mission Director, NRHM during the visit.

Himachali Celebrates ‘Sayar Utsav’ at Delhi

Revenue and Health Minister Thakur Kaul Singh said that the State Government would provide full support to people of Himachal Pradesh settled in various parts of the country to preserve rich cultural heritage and tradition of the State. Shri Kaul Singh was addressing the people on the occasion of annual ‘Sayar Utsav’ held at Shah Auditorium, New Delhi today. 

Revenue and Health Minister said that the State Government would prepare a ‘Data Bank’ of Himachalis so that they could be connected with the development in the State. He said that all the Himachali Organisations working in Metropolitan Cities in the country should establish better coordination as they were acting as ‘Brand Ambassador’ of the State. He also suggested them to establish ‘Himachal Bhawan’ so that they could get an appropriate place for celebrating various Himachali functions and festivals for better emotional integration. 

Thakur Kaul Singh suggested various Himachali organisations to print detailed directories so that in the present era of communication, instant contact could be established. He also advised them to go for social media like Facebook and Twitter for fast and easy coordination and contact.

Revenue and Health Minister said that the State Government has adopted the Election Manifesto of Congress Party as its policy document and all the commitments made in the manifesto would be fulfilled at the earliest. 

He also detailed various activities and developmental works initiated by the State Government.

He announced an amount of Rs. 11000 from his discretionary fund for students presenting cultural programme on the occasion.

CM lays foundation stone of 100 bedded MCH at Kamla Nehru Hospital

Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh laid foundation stone of 100 bedded Mother & Child Hospital at Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) here today. He said that Rs. 70 crore would be spent on the construction of this six storied building which would have all modern health care facilities pertaining to Mother & Child. 

Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Kamla Nehru Hospital was being upgraded to a full-fledged State level Mother & Child hospital and it would remain attached with Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) for Medical Education. He said that during his previous tenure a new building was constructed at KNH and presently this building has capacity of 174 beds. He said that the new building would be constructed after dismantling the old building. 

Chief Minister said that the new building would have the facilities like central heating, post operative surgical beds & special wards, main & minor operation theatres, labour rooms and post labour rooms pre and after natal care wards etc. He directed the Public Works Department to ensure quality and standard work and complete this building within a year. 

Chief Minister said State Government had accorded top most priority to the health sector and efforts were being done to provide best health care facilities to the people not only in urban areas but also in remote and rural areas. He said that 100 posts of Doctors were being filled during current fiscal while 100 Doctors would be posted next year. He said that medical was a noble profession and Doctors and other Paramedical staff should serve in rural areas at least for a specific period in order to serve the ailing people. 

Shri Virbhadra Singh said that sincere efforts were being made to develop IGMC as a premier health institution of the State. He said that new OPD and Administrative Block buildings were being constructed at IGMC Shimla with a cost of Rs. 66 crores. He said that on completion it would provide best health care facilities to the people visiting IGMC and OPD patients needs not to go the old hospital buildings and would have the entry facilities from both Cart road through lift and other from lower road via Lakkar Bazar. 

Chief Minister said that with a view to de-congest IGMC and provide more space to the patients and students, Dental and Nursing Colleges would be shifted near Ghanahatti where a new complex of 100 bedded hospital would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 150 crores. He said that there would be no paucity of funds for creating and developing best health infrastructure in the State. 

Chief Minister said that Dr. Rajender Prasad Medical College (RPMC) and Hospital Tanda, Kangra, whose foundation stone was laid by him in the year 1996, had been developed as another premier health institute of the State and presently it has emerged as a complete township where apart from best medical facilities, housing facilities to all staff members were made available. He said that people of six districts were being benefited by this medical institution. 

Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the State Government intends to develop Himachal Pradesh as hub of health sector, where best health care facilities were available to the people of the State and Country. He said that apart from Government sector best reputed health institutions like Fortis and Vedanta etc. would be provided all facilities if they wish to establish their health institutions in the State. 

Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that he had recently taken up the matter of increasing MBBS seats in IGMC Shimla from 100 to 150 with Union Health Minister Shri Ghulam Navi Azad, as it was more than 50 years old hospital. He said that IGMC had produced 2773 MBBS Doctors and over 860 Post Graduate Medical Specialists in various disciplines. He said that a new building of Dr. RPMC Tanda was near completion on which 150 crores were being spent. He said that 400 posts of para medical staff and 300 staff nurses were being filled to provide proper health care to the people in the State. 

Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that many posts of doctors and other para medical staff were remained vacant during previous Government regime. He said that in IGMC out of total 597 sanctioned staff nurses only 238 were serving presently putting extra pressure on them. He expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh who also holds Finance portfolio for being liberal towards health department.

Medical Superintendent KNH, Dr. L.S. Chaudhary while welcoming the Chief Minister said that KNH was oldest health institution of the State whose foundation stone was laid in 1923 by wife of Lord Reading and named as Lady Reading Hospital. He said that its name was changed to Kamla Nehru Hospital on 15th August, 1982 and was made State level Mother & Child Hospital on 6th March, 2006. 

Dr. Santosh Minhas presented the vote of thanks.

Dy. Mayor MC Shimla Shri Tikendar Panwar, former Mayor Smt. Madhu Sood, Councillors of MC Shimla, Principal Secretary Health Shri Ali Raza Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Special Secretary Health and Mission Director NRHM Shri Amitabh Avasthi, Engineer-in-Chief, PWD Shri Pradeep Chauhan, Director Health and Family Wefare Dr. Kulbhushan Sood, Director Medical Education Dr. Jaishri, Principal IGMC Dr. S.S. Kaushal, Sr.MS IGMC Dr. Ramesh Chand, Chief Engineer PWD Shri D.K. Nayar, Senior Architect Shri N.L. Negi, Retd. Prof. Dr. Tara Gupta and other officers, doctors, medical students and para medical staff were present on the occasion. 

Scrub typhus claims 8th life in Himachal Pradesh

The deadly scrub typhus has so far killed eight people in Himachal Pradesh, while 573 have tested positive. These cases are apparently just the proverbial tip of iceberg, as a large number of cases in remote rural areas of the state are not reported as patients fail to reach the state capital for treatment. The disease had killed 40 people in the state last year.

According to data provided by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officials, from May 1, 2013, to August 30 this year, 3,050 persons were tested for scrub typhus, of which 573 were found positive. Many cases are being treated out the state, for which records are not maintained here, they said.

At Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) here, out of 1,086 samples tested, 357 were found positive. At Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital in Kangra, out of 482 samples tested, 111 were positive. Five deaths were reported during the period, sources said.

"Scrub typhus testing facility is available only at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. This causes delayed diagnosis, which proves fatal for them," said a senior official of health department.

Official sources said that early detection can ensure timely treatment which is very cheap. But due to late diagnosis, patients end up at IGMCH or Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, in Kangra in a serious condition, while some are referred to PGI Chandigarh.

Two days back, the state government has issued orders to make the test facility available at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital in Kangra, the health officials said. Machines required for the specialized tests have already reached Kangra and tests would be taken up there soon, they said.

IGM Alisa test is considered the most accurate to confirm the disease as it has over 90% sensitivity. The test is available only at IGMCH while weil-felix test is available in the districts. District health officials have now been directed to conduct Alisa test from the kits provided to them under the AIDS programme, they added.

While health minister Kaul Singh Thakur could not be reached for comments as he was busy in Delhi, health director Kulbhushan Sood said directions have been issued to field staff to administer doxycycline tablets to patients having high fever and headache. "We have already brought down the death rate almost to zero," he added.

Scrub typhus

Scrub typhus is transmitted by some species of trombiculid mites ("chiggers", particularly leptotrombidium deliense), which are found in areas with heavy scrub vegetation. The bite of this mite leaves a characteristic black eschar, which makes it easy for the doctor to diagnose the infection.

Symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle pain, cough and gastrointestinal problems.

Signs: Maculopapular rash, eschar, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathies.

Complications: Pneumonitis, encephalitis, and myocarditis occur in late phases of the illness.

Treatment

Without treatment, the disease is often fatal. Since the use of antibiotics, case fatalities have decreased from 4%–40% to less than 2%.
The drug most commonly used is doxycycline; but chloramphenicol is an alternative. Strains that are resistant to doxycycline and to chloramphenicol are common in northern Thailand. Rifampin and azithromycin are alternatives. Azithromycin is an alternative in children and pregnant women with scrub typhus, and when doxycycline-resistance is suspected. Ciprofloxacin cannot be used safely in pregnancy and is associated with stillbirths and miscarriage. Combination therapy with doxycycline and rifampicin is not recommended due to possible antagonism.
Other drugs that may be effective are clarithromycin, roxithromycin, and the fluoroquinolones, but there is no clinical evidence on which to recommend their use. Azithromycin or chloramphenicol is useful for infection in children or pregnant women.

Chief Minister gives away awards to meritorious students

Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Newspapers play an important role in making people aware about latest happenings alongwith policies and programmes of the Government being initiated for the welfare of people. He was speaking at ‘Pratibha Samman Samaroh-2013’ of Hindi daily Amar Ujala at Peterhoff, here today. 

Chief Minister alongwith his Cabinet colleagues gave away ‘Pratibha Samman’ to the meritorious students of the plus two and tenth classes of H.P. Board of School Education and Shimla City meritorious students of different Education Boards on the occasion. He said that it was laudable that this group was giving these awards since 2002 to promote the meritorious talent and inspire other students of the State. He said that Amar Ujala was a leading newspaper of the country having daily circulation of over 23 lakh and 3 crore readers. 

Shri Virbhadra Singh said that it was a matter of pride that Amar Ujala group started its journey 65 years back and today it had 18 editions and 125 sub- editions. He said that Amar Ujala started its Chandigarh edition in the year 1999 for Himachal Pradesh thereafter publication started from Dharamshala Unit in the year 2005. He said that Amar Ujala was one of the leading newspapers of the Country.

Chief Minister said that State Government had taken many welfare and people oriented decisions during past seven months and election manifesto had been adopted as a policy document of the Government. He said that computer net-books would be provided to 5000 meritorious students of 10th and 12th Classes of HP Board of School Education under Rajiv Gandhi Digital Students Scheme. He said that smart classrooms were being opened in 618 Government Senior Secondary Schools and 837 High Schools besides vocational education was being started in 100 schools in the State.

Shri Virbhadra Singh said that incentive money of Rs.75000 would be provided to the students who qualify and take admissions in IIT,IIM and AIIMS. He said that ITI’s would be opened in those assembly constituencies where there were no Government ITI institutions. He said that the schools de-notified by the previous BJP Government were being reopened and free travel facilities from home to school and vice-versa was being provided to all Government school students in HRTC buses since 1st April 2013. 

Chief Minister said that Government was committed towards welfare of journalists and various steps have been initiated in this direction. He said that awards were being given to the journalists for best development stories which includes Rs. 50000 National Award for best story, Rs. 40000 for best story at State level while Rs. 25000 and Rs. 20000 for 2nd and 3rd State level Awards respectively. 



The District level Awards for best story published in newspapers and magazines of Rs. 25000, Rs. 15000 and Rs. 10000 was being given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd best stories respectively. Besides the Award of Rs. 40000,Rs. 25000 and Rs. 15000 was also being given as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Awards for electronics Media. He said that financial assistance was being provided to the media persons under Journalist Welfare Fund Scheme. He said that all Journalist and their families were being covered under Health Insurance Scheme. 

Executive Editor, Amar Ujala Shri Uday Kumar while welcoming the Chief Minister said that it was co-incidence that Shri Virbhadra Singh has become Chief Minister of the State for record 6th time and had awarded the meritorious students five times earlier at Amar Ujala function and this was his sixth ‘Pratibha Samman’. He said that Amar Ujala got fabulous love and affection of people of Himachal Pradesh as it strived hard to look beyond the news and critical approach. 

He said that his group had tried to help the people in time of distress. He cited the example of Kumari Shilpa of Mandi district who topped in Science Stream in Plus two with 97 per cent marks this year. As her family could not afford expenses of higher education so she was making her mind to study in some nearby higher education institution. He said that Amar Ujala published the story and appealed to donate money in her account on which people of the State deposited Rs. 1.50lakh and she was presently studying at prestigious St. Stephen College in Delhi. 

APG University, Shimla also collaborated with Amar Ujala to organize this ‘Pratibha Samman’. Executive Director of APG University Smt. Priyanka Goyal said about 100 crore had been invested to provide congenial environment to the students. She said that scholarships and concession would be provided to the meritorious, Himachali and students of weaker sections of the society. 

Assistant Vice President Amar Ujala Shri Mohit Sharma presented vote of thanks. 

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes, Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur, Industries and Information & Public Relations Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, Mayor, M.C. Shimla Shri Sanjay Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Shri Tikender Panwar, V.C. HPU Prof. ADN Bajpayee, Chairman, H.P. Board of School Education Shri Balbir Tegta, Principal Secretary Finance Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Vice President Amarujala Shri H.S. Chugh, Cluster Head Shri Mohit Sharma, General Manager Shri Robinder Singh and Resident Editor Himachal, Shri Mritunjay Kumar and other persons associated with Amar Ujala, Director Higher Education Shri Dinkar Burathoki, Director Elementary Education Shri Ashok Sharma and other dignitaries, meritorious students, parents and teacher were present on the occasion. 

Ex-serviceman fails to get timely treatment, dies

Ex-serviceman and transporter Jogender Singh Patial (58) of Berry Mian village, near here, died unattended by any doctor at the Regional Hospital here on Saturday after having waited for 15 minutes for treatment.

He died there even though his family and neighbours had rushed him to the hospital at 11 am on Saturday.

Milap Chand, former vice-president of the Berry Mian gram panchayat and brother of the deceased, told mediapersons that all efforts of relatives and attendants of the deceased to bring a doctor to examine him in time failed. They even failed to get a stretcher for him.

While scores of people accompanied by patients waited anxiously for doctors, there was no doctor in the OPD and the trauma centre.

Milap Chand said the deceased had complained of chest pain and was suspected to have had a heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, but died there without getting timely medical aid.

A woman doctor came to check him after about 15 minutes' wait, but it was too late as he had already died.

He said they were going to complain against the hospital to the higher authorities regarding the mismanagement in the hospital and would demand action and a high-level probe in the matter. He also urged Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur to conduct a probe into the incident.

Virbhadra Singh welcomed Ambika Soni

Shri Virbhadra Singh welcomed the AICC General Secretary and Incharge of Himachal Pradesh Congress Party Smt. Ambika Soni. He said that this was the second time when She was appointed incharge of the State and hoped that all party workers would benefit by her vast experience and guidance as she had rich knowledge of whole Himachal Pradesh. He also welcomed Secretary, AICC and Co-Incharge Smt. Geetashree Oraon. 

Chief Minister honoured them by presenting Himachali caps and shawls. 

AICC General Secretary and Incharge of Himachal Pradesh Congress Party Smt. Ambika Soni urged the partymen to fan out in the fields to tell common man about the benefits of the NFSO and dispel the false propaganda of the Opposition. She said that UPA Government under the guidance of UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan had launched various welfare schemes for the benefit of the people of the country especially vulnerable sections of the society. She said that MNREGA, RTE, RTI and now NFSO were started by the UPA Government to empower the common-man. 

Smt. Soni said that Himachal Pradesh was making rapid strides in development under the able leadership of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh who had become Chief Minister of the State for sixth time. She said that Congress Party was committed towards upkeeping the high principles of democratic set up. She exhorted the congress workers to work unitedly for ensuring victory of all four Congress candidates from Himachal Pradesh in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. 

AICC Secretary and Co-incharge of Himachal Congress Party Smt. Geetashree Oraon lauded the Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh for starting subsidized ration scheme in the State during its previous tenure. She said that Congress Party had always safeguarded the interests of the people especially poor and down trodden. She urged the party workers to apprise the people about flagship programmes of the UPA Government at grass root level. 

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri Sukhvinder Singh Thakur said that under the dynamic leadership of AICC President Smt. Sonia Gandhi all the Congress leaders and workers of the State would strive hard to realize the vision and dreams of Smt. Sonia Gandhi to make India strong, united and growing in all fields and maintaining the dignity of all religions. He said that Pradesh Congress would immensely benefit from the rich experiences of Smt. Ambika Soni and Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh and other senior leaders. He said that all decisions and programmes of Congress party would be implemented in letter and spirit in the State. 

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes, Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur, MLA Shri Kuldeep Kumar, General Secretary HPCC Shri Harwardhan Chauhan, Chairman, State level Planning Development and 20 Point Programme Committee Shri Ram Lal Thakur, Chairman, Pollution Control Board Shri Kuldeep Singh Pathania, District and Block Congress Presidents also spoke on the occasion. 

Council of Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, MLAs, former MLAs, District and Block Congress Presidents, Presidents of all frontal organizations of Congress Party, members and office bearers of the party were present on the occasion. 

Himachal minister urges nurses to serve in rural areas

Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Wednesday called on nurses to come forward voluntarily to serve in the state's rural areas.



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Himachal minister urges nurses to serve in rural areas

Shimla, July 24 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Wednesday called on nurses to come forward voluntarily to serve in the state's rural areas.



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Himachal to use fish to tackle mosquitoes

Himachal Pradesh is preparing a project to introduce larvae-eating fish in stagnant waters across the state to fight the mosquito menace, an official statement quoting Health Minister Kaul Singh said Wednesday.



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Himachal to use fish to tackle mosquitoes

Shimla, July 10 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh is preparing a project to introduce larvae-eating fish in stagnant waters across the state to fight the mosquito menace, an official statement quoting Health Minister Kaul Singh said Wednesday.



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Himachal seeks central funds for modernising revenue records

Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Tuesday demanded funding from the central government for the introduction of satellite-based revenue settlement procedure in the entire state.



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Himachal seeks central funds for modernising revenue records

Shimla, July 9 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Tuesday demanded funding from the central government for the introduction of satellite-based revenue settlement procedure in the entire state.



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Himachal is smoke-free, says minister

Shimla, July 2 (IANS) Health Minister Kaul Singh Tuesday declared Himachal Pradesh "smoke-free" and stressed the need to make the drive against smoking more intensive.



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Priyanka Vadra, Bhushan among outsiders allowed land-purchase in Himachal

Shimla, April 8 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Vadra and lawyer Prashant Bhushan are among 881 outsiders who were allowed to buy land in the past three years in Himachal Pradesh, Revenue Minister Kaul Singh said here Monday.



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Priyanka Vadra, Prashant Bhushan flouted land law in Himachal

Shimla, April 8 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Vadra and lawyer Prashant Bhushan are among 881 outsiders who were allowed to buy land in the past three years in Himachal Pradesh, Revenue Minister Kaul Singh said here Monday.



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