Day: December 18, 2012

MNS:- As per Census 2011, the child sex ratio (0-6 years) has declined from 927 females per thousand males in 2001 to 914 females per 1000 males in 2011.
The State/UT Government have the key responsibility to effectively implement the PC & PNDT Act. Government of India on its part, is committed to strengthen effective implementation of the PC & PNDT Act to address the declining child sex ratio in the country and has been providing technical, financial and IEC support to the States. Further Government has been regularly monitoring the progress of implementation of the Act.
As an outcome of increased efforts by the Government, Quarterly Progress Reports are now reflecting an improved compliance of the provisions of the Act by States/ UTs. So far, a total of 556 cases have been registered against violation of the PC & PNDT Act in last two years as against only 739 cases between 1995 and 2010. There are 111 convictions secured so far and medical license of 33 convicted doctors have been suspended by respective State Medical Councils.
The measures include the following:
1. Regular meetings of Central Supervisory Board and other statutory bodies under the PC & PNDT Act
2. Scaling up of inspections of ultrasound facilities by the by National and State Inspection Committees and action against violations of the Act
3. Comprehensive awareness generation activities through print and electronic media, community mobilization by Non Governmental Organizations, involvement of religious leaders, women achievers etc in the campaign against discrimination of the girl child.
4. The Government is rendering financial support to the States and UTs for Information, Education and Communication campaigns and for strengthening structure for the implementation of the Act under the National Rural Health Mission.
5. Sex Ratio to ascertain the causes, plan appropriate Behaviour Change Communication campaigns and effectively implementation provision of the PC & PNDT Act.
Government of India accords high priority to the issue of missing children on account of sex determination and will continue to implement a multi-pronged strategy to curb female foeticide in the country. The steps include awareness generation and legislative measures as well as programmes for socio-economic empowerment of women. The Government will continue to take necessary steps for effective implementation of the PC & PNDT Act with the co-operation of the states.
This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/drop-in-child-sex-ratio/

MNS:- Describing the twin tasks of improving the pensionary and medical benefits for ex-servicemen as ‘subjects of prime concern’ and ‘as an ongoing process’, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today announced that the orders authorizing payment to ex-servicemen and their families accruing from the recent cabinet decisions, hiking pension and other benefits amounting to nearly Rs.2300 crores per annum, would be issued next month.
Addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, here, Shri Antony said this is the third time in the last four years that the Government have systematically improved the post-retirement benefits for ex-servicemen.
Outlining the slew of measures taken by the MoD for improving the health care benefits of ex-servicemen, Shri Antony said the Government has been trying to expand the delivery mechanism and simplify procedures so that the ex-servicemen, who have given their best years of life for the security of the nation, get the required medical benefits without hassles.
He said under the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), which has been in operation since April 2003, 227 polyclinics were initially approved by the Government. In 2010, another 199 polyclinics were sanctioned by the Government out of which 99 polyclinics have become functional and 100 polyclinics are under various stages of operationalization. The scheme is presently been implemented to 326 functional polyclinics. At present, the scheme has over 41 lakh beneficiaries including 13 lakh ex-servicemen and over 28 lakh dependents. The reach and coverage of the scheme is evident from the fact that in 2011-12, 90 lakh patients were attended to at the polyclinics. Shri Antony expressed confidence that with the commissioning of the remaining polyclinics the bulk of the ex-servicemen population throughout the country would be covered by the scheme.
Shri Antony said there is still a long way to go as presently, ECHS facilities are available only in 339 districts out of a total of 659 in the country. The delivery of medicare at polyclinics is also hampered by the shortage of staff and non-availability of the prescribed medicines.
Taking part in the discussion, the Members of Parliament urged the Government to prepare a roadmap to ensure that medical facilities are available to ex-servicemen in every district of the country. They also called for greater transparency in the process. Some Members pointed out that there is inordinate delay in settling the bills of private hospitals which should be ameliorated through technological means. Taking note of the rapid growth of healthcare facilities in the private sector in recent years and the innovative steps taken by some organizations and hospitals, the Members suggested that the Government should adopt the best practices readily available outside the government sector rather than handling the situation in a conservative fashion which is neither efficient nor cost-effective.
Replying to some of the queries of the Members, the Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh said the government is veering towards a ‘dashboard approach’ so that the healthcare mechanisms can be monitored online on a day-to-day basis by the administrators. He said the government’s efforts will always be to put a smile on the face of the ex-servicemen because they deserve it.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pensionary-benefits-to-ex-servicemen-to-be-issued-next-month/

MNS:- The two-day Inter-Ministerial Conference for mainstreaming HIV organized by the Department of AIDS Control began at New Delhi today.
The programme started with welcome by Dr. Neeraj Dhingra, Deputy Director General, TI, Department of AIDS Control.
Addressing the inaugural session, Ms. P Kousalya, President, Positive Women`s Network said that HIV is a developmental issue which affects every aspect of life of an affected individual and has a significant impact beyond health, particularly of the women and children.
Ms. Alexandra Solovieva, Deputy Country Director, UNDP, India said that under the leadership of NACO, India has made significant strides towards arresting new infections and reversing the epidemic. She emphasised that for inclusive and sustainable development it is important to deliberate on the scope for mainstreaming HIV and commented that the conference has been timed well with the twelfth five year plan to gear up the efforts in mainstreaming.
In his address, Mr. Sayan Chatterjee, Secretary and DG, NACO touched upon the progress India has made and reminded the delegates that success should not lead to complacence which can be counterproductive. He urged that the focus and energy and high spirit has to be sustained for creating impact. Mr. Chatterjee noted that the emerging evidence though indicates the headway made among select states and key populations it also highlights fresh pockets, select key and vulnerable populations that need more attention and a refined response. He also noted that the conference is being organised at a very opportune moment at the beginning of NACP IV. He stated that an infection like HIV which cannot be cured but only prevented and which is sexually transmitted, in the context of a sexually conservative society calls for a synergy in response.
Ms. Aradhana Johri, Additional Secretary, DAC presented the global and regional HIV scenario and elaborated on the need for effective response through a multi sectoral approach discussing the available evidence and the way forward. She mentioned that India`s significant achievements have been well appreciated globally and summarized the India`s progress towards halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic in India. She mentioned that globally India is doing very well and nationally we need to do much better leveraging the synergies with various ministries. She admitted that India needed more evidence on migrants, truckers and TG for a refined response and the national programme is gearing up towards that. She also emphasised that while people must know about the services, for utilisation of the services in a stigma free environment is pivotal. She pointed out that Stigma cannot be addressed in isolation and calls for a concerted efforts of various ministries and departments.
Altogether three technical sessions were held during the day. The topics of the sessions were as follows:-
1. Partnership for mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS by improving access to social and legal protection for communities affected by HIV.
2. Partnership to address issues of Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV among adolescents and youth.
3. Partnership for reducing the vulnerability and impact of HIV and AIDS among uniformed personnel.
Representatives from various ministries, public and private sector companies, industry associations, autonomous bodies, representatives from state governments, State AIDS Control Societies and technical experts in the field took part in the conference.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/inter-ministerial-conference-for-mainstreaming-hiv-held/