Guwahati, April 18: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said there is a need to create health schemes that provide widest coverage to the young, aged and infirm, and those suffering from both critical acute and chronic ailments.
Naidu was addressing a gathering after launching Atal Amrit Abhiyan by the Assam government here.
The unique health scheme seeks to provide access to quality medical care to 3.2 crore people.
The Vice President called on the private sector to supplement the efforts of the government in a big way in reaching out medical care to the people in rural areas.
He further said that quality of health services should be good enough to improve the health of those receiving services.
"People should be protected against financial-risk, ensuring that the cost of using services does not put people at risk of financial harm," he added.
Naidu said modern day lifestyle is leading to various non-communicable diseases and said that efforts are needed to arrest the growing incidence of such disease which is affecting even the young.
"There has to be concerted efforts from all stakeholders in healthcare to raise awareness among the people on the dangers of leading sedentary lifestyles, eating junk food, harmful use of alcohol and tobacco," he added.
Naidu who was on a three day visit to northeast also stressed on the need to change school curriculum include lessons on NCDs and physical exercises should be made mandatory for school and college students. "Wherever possible, 'yoga asanas' should also be taught to children," he added.
The Vice President said northeastern states, like the rest of India, are facing shortage of medical manpower and medical facilities in rural areas.
"This shortage has to be bridged by opening more medical colleges and setting up more number of healthcare facilities in the rural places," he added.
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3 Indians arrested in Canada for shooting outside home
Ottawa (PTI): Three Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home.
Harjot Singh (21), Taranveer Singh (19) and Dayajeet Singh Billing (21) face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a statement on Monday.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey's Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported.
On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later, the statement said.
SPS’s Major Crime Section took over the investigation, and the three men have now been charged with Criminal Code offences, it said.
All three have been charged with one count each of discharging a firearm into a place contrary to section 244.2(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. All three have been remanded in custody until February 5, 2026.
The SPS has confirmed they are all foreign nationals and has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency, it said.
One of the suspects suffered injuries, including two black eyes, the media report said.
Surrey police Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said on Monday that the suspect had refused to comply with instructions to get out of the ride-share vehicle and started to "actively resist."
"As we were trained, he was taken to the ground and safely handcuffed," said Houghton.
A second suspect with a black eye was also injured in the arrest after refusing to comply, Houghton said.
The arresting officers were part of Project Assurance, an initiative that patrols neighbourhoods that have been targeted by extortion violence.
Houghton said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is also involved because the men are foreign nationals, and the trio may face additional charges.
It's not clear if the men are in the country on tourist visas, a study permit, or a work permit, but Houghton said CBSA has started its own investigation into the men's status.
Surrey has seen a number of shootings at homes and businesses over the last several months, but there's been an escalation since the new year.
