Kullu, April 28: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in presence of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Saturday launched several Central health schemes here for the state.

The schemes are Digital Nerve Centre, LaQshya Programme, Anemia Mukt Bharat, e-Compliance Programme and a mobile app of the Universal Health Protection Scheme.

He also laid foundation stone of a 100-bedded mother and child health wing of the regional hospital here to be constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore, a state government spokesperson told IANS.

The state has received Rs 5 crore for the hospital as the first instalment from the central government.

The LaQshya Programme is an initiative to improve the quality of care in the labour rooms and operation theatres and other areas related to mother and child to reduce proportion of maternal and newborn deaths.

Anemia Mukt Bharat is a step towards making mothers and children anemia free, while the mobile app of Universal Health Protection Scheme aims at achieving universal health coverage and e-Compliance is an endeavour to check tuberculosis and ensure 100 per cent compliance of its treatment.

The Digital Nerve Centre was launched in association with TATA Trust for linking the patients with specialist doctors for world class treatment.

Transport and Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur said the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ensuring that the pace of development did not suffer due to want of funds.

Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma said the best coordination between the Chief Minister and the Union Health Minister had ensured that the state gets immense benefits from the Central schemes.

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New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.

The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.

The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.

"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.

Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.

"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.

It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.

It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.

"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.

It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.