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 Ayushman Bharat Fortnight kicked off in Meghalaya

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Meghalaya, Shri A. L Hek today kicked off the Ayushman Bharat Fortnight at Moreau Institute for Integral Training (MIIT), Cleve Colony, Shillong in the presence of Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Smti Meena Kharkongor as Guest of Honour, Shri P. Bakshi Secretary Health & Family Welfare and MD NHM & CEO MHIS, Government of Meghalaya, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and Directors of Health Services Smti. M. War Nongbri, and Dr. N. K Bhattacharjee, President, of Heart Care Society, Assam.

The objective of this fortnight is to increase awareness about Ayushman Bharat and reach out to the beneficiaries with information about availing the services. The thematic approach will essentially cover both the pillars of Ayushman Bharat schemes i.e. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yaoga (PM-JAY) as well as Pradhan Mantri Health & Wellness Centers. In February 2018, the Government of India announced that 1, 50,000 Health & Wellness Centres would be created by transforming existing Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care and declared this as one of the two components of Ayushman Bharat

In his speech, the Minister said that the flagship health insurance programme of the Government of India will ensure that every citizen benefit from the scheme. He said that health is a core issue of concern for the government, and the department has left no stone unturned to implement this scheme in letter and spirit. He called upon the health workers to take this programme forward and guarantee ‘Health for All’ to each and every citizen.

Smti Kharkongor, in her speech, touched on the very important aspect of health care of the under privileged children in rural areas where she said that these children are greatly affected due to lack of information about the various health schemes of both the Central and State Government.  She expressed gratitude to the Government for taking the initiatives to increase equity in the health services delivery in the area of child health which include, targeting of rural population especially the disadvantaged groups as the primary beneficiary with special focus on women and children. She expressed hope that the dynamic team of health workers will ensure that this programme touch the last mile.

Shri Bakshi in his speech said Ayushman Bharat is the largest government funded programme of the Government and the Government of India has set a target of setting up 1.5 lakh Health & Wellness Centres by 2022. He said that this insurance scheme will reduce out of pocket expenditure and catastrophic health expenditure of the patients. Shri Bakshi also informed that till date there are 42 Health and Wellness Centres in the State and hoped that by the year 2022, Meghalaya will achieve the targeted 207 number of Centres.

Smti War Nongbri, in her speech said that Ayushman Bharat gives us an opportunity to contribute more to health and wellness of the citizens and PMJAY-MHIS assures the citizens to know more about the health schemes. She said that East Khasi Hills District has only 51% enrolment in MHIS Stage IV and called for a strong mechanism to ensure that each and every citizen is not denied of the benefit of this health scheme.

Ayushman Bharat or “Healthy India”, a national initiative was launched in 2018 as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage. It comprises of two inter-related components–Establishment of Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) - that cover prevention promotion and ambulatory care at primary level, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) - for cashless treatment at secondary and tertiary level. The objective of this initiative is to increase and ensure the awareness to availing the services from Health and Wellness Centres, PM-JAY and MHIS. It will also be emphasizing during the fortnight, the enrolment of all families under MHIS to enable them to get benefits from the scheme.

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It has been an often repeated truth that Kashmir is a Paradise on earth which had unfortunately become a hell of hatred and turmoil by self inflicted pain which may be blamed on many actors but all said and done it was self inflicted.

The most important question about Kashmir has been whether the ethnic identity should be preserved at all cost and whether that is more important than socio economic development for the people and whether both are exclusive of each other and one has to be achieved at the cost of other or there is a via media.

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The Supreme Court on August 27, this year, dismissed the senior Congress leader and the former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s plea against dismissal of anticipatory bail in a case related to INX Media. Incidentally, the CBI Special court had extended the custody of Mr Chidambaram, till August 30, 2019. The Apex Court has delivered the judgment after hearing the arguments of the CBI and Chidambaram’s counsel minutely.

It may be recalled that Mr Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on August 20, this year, after he failed to present himself before them for a day, in spite of the authorities concerned calling him four times to find out his whereabouts. The agency found, much to their dismay that his cell-phone was switched-off and he also did not respond to their e-mail. Only when the CBI could not spot him, despite their best efforts, they issued the “Look Out” notice at his residence in New Delhi, asking him to appear before the CBI within two hour.

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Of all the states in the Northeast India, Assam is the most crisis-ridden state. It is not an understatement, rather a reality based on a prolonged observation.  Because there are many and varied problems in the state.  But as some major political problems still remain unsolved, a complete peace in the easternmost is as elusive as it was in Jammu and Kashmir till before the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A, aimed at ending the decades-old militancy movement in the valley.

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Rotavirus Vaccine vaccination launched in East Khasi Hills

As part of the observation of Poshan Maah, the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills District, Smti M. War Nongbri today officially launched the Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) vaccination in the District at a function held at Baniun village under Mylliem C&RD Block, East Khasi Hills District.

Speaking on the occasion, Smti War said that Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) is a vaccine used to protect against rotavirus infection, a highly contagious virus, and it is the most common organism that causes diarrheoa among young children which may lead to hospitalization and even death.

Smti War appeal the parents, members of NGOs and community leaders to come forwards and join hands with the health officials of the District to ensure that rotavirus vaccine is administered to all babies to enable them to enjoy healthy life.

Smti War also urged the students to spread the message of Rotavirus vaccine vaccination and make their parents aware about the importance of immunizations of children.

Later, to mark the launching of the Rotavirus vaccine vaccination, Smti War along with others officials administered vaccine drops to infants.  

Earlier, Dr. R. R. Marak, District Nodal Officer, RVV, East Khasi Hills gave a presentation on Rotavirus and its vaccine, while  Smti O. Sumer, DHEO, East Khasi Hills spoke about the importance of nutrition and balanced diet in our daily life.

The programme was also attended by Shri P. T. Passah, BDO, Mylliem C&RD, Dr M. R. Basaiawmoit,  DM&HO, East Khasi Hills District, Dr. D. P. Syiem, Sr. M&HO, In-charge Pomlum PHC, Representatives from the Dorbar Shnong, Pomlum, teachers and students from the area

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Meghalaya Government to stress on Early Childhood Development

MeghalayaChief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today inaugurated the Dissemination workshop on Meghalaya’s experience of improving ECD (Early Childhood Development) and nutrition outcomes: results from an integrated community-led pilot in Rongram, Tura at a daylong workshop led at Asian Confluence, Laitumkhrah, Shillong.

Delivering the Keynote Address and sharing Meghalaya government’s vision for the provision of integrated services for young children’s development, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that ECD and nutrition of children, pregnant and lactating mothers is an area to which the government is focussed on and taking up on a priority. “While there are challenges of containing the IMR and MMR rates there is a parallel challenge of dealing with the high fertility rate which results in a woman giving birth to five six children which brings innate challenges of its own,” said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister while highlighting the various aspects of the programme ‘MOTHER’ said that economic empowerment and making the woman productive is very crucial. “The various departments be it Health, Education, Social Welfare or Rural Development have been working in silos and there was no system in place for policy makers to have an insight or to have the various programmes of the departments monitored, through ‘MOTHER’ the different departments will be integrated through technology for better and efficient tracking, monitoring and implementation of the programmes under various departments for children and women,” he informed. He also said that the Self Help Groups will be strengthened and added that SHGs is the best institution for ECD and other programmes for child and mother development.

Earlier, Commissioner & Secretary, C & RD, P Sampat Kumar, spoke on what the State can do to develop the full potential of the children and said that the shift of ECD is now from survival to thriving.  He also said that the knowledge acquired from ECD pilot in Rongram can be used and layered across SHGs and layer ECD in Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS) immediately. He also proposed setting up of Knowledge Institutions to work across the departments.

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Mukul Sangma alleged corruption in Saubhagya Scheme

Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma today alleged corruption in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MEECL) especially in the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, Saubhagya Scheme.

The central scheme Saubhagya was launched in September 2017 which aims to achieve the goal of universal household electrification in the country. Meghalaya has been divided under two packages i.e. A. Khasi Jaintia and Ribhoi region and B. Garo Hills in which total of Rs 657 crore has been sanctioned for providing electricity connection to 1,99,835 households in the eleven districts of the state.

Dr. Mukul Sangma said that there is deep criminal conspiracy which involve in the corruption in the project. He added that from the beginning there was report of manipulation of documents in the bidding process and that the bidding was just a formality as the department has already identified the winning contractor prior the bidding.

It maybe mentioned that the State Government has already missed the deadline of 31^st March 2019 and eventually the department has sought extension of time to complete the work till 31^st March 2020.

Leader of Opposition also said that he have inputs that one bidder has filed a petition to the Meghalaya High Court but later on the petitioner withdraw the petition which is surprising. He even went to say that even the bills were not scrutinized by the finance department before the payment were made.  

The Opposition party will raise this issue in the upcoming Assembly and will demand the State Government to investigate the corruption in the Saubhagya Scheme and to punish all those involve in the corruption.

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HYC demand strengthen of VDP and Directorate of Anti-Infiltration in Meghalaya

After the declaration of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam several neighbouring states in North East region including Meghalaya have put up several entries and exits point to tackle the influx in the state. Over 19 lakhs citizens were left out in the latest NRC list which as release on 31^st August.

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) today met the Director General Police of Meghalaya Shri.  R. Chandranathan to demand the Meghalaya police to strengthen the man power in the Directorate of Anti-infiltration.

Speaking to reporter after the meeting President Robertjune Kharjarin said that after the release of the NRC, those whose names excluded from the list will automatically sneak into Meghalaya as they have nowhere else to go, therefore it is the duty of the Police Department to increase their man power in the anti- infiltration directorate in all district of Meghalaya. He also added that all Village Authority and Village Defence Party should be given ample power in order to prevent entry and settlement of illegal immigrants in any villages of Meghalaya. The Union has also suggested to setup 24*7 check gate in each and every roads both at interstate and international Border of the State.

Meanwhile Director General Police of Meghalaya Shri. R. Chandranathan said that the Police Department will set up grievances officers to deal with the issues and help line number will be displayed in the Police websites for any query regarding this matter.