Amaravati (PTI): The Andhra Pradesh Health and Medical Department on Thursday entered into an agreement with a private organisation to supply medicines and blood units to hospitals in remote tribal areas through drones.

The Paderu mandal in Alluri Sitharama Raju district will be the central hub of this initiative aimed at strengthening emergency medical services in far-flung tribal regions of the district and ensuring timely access to essential medicines and blood supplies.

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"We have signed an agreement with the 'Red Wing' organisation to operate drone-based medical supply services, with Paderu serving as the hub," Health and Medical Department Commissioner G Veerapandian said in an official press release.

He further said that the drone services will cater to Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres within a radius of 60 to 80 kilometres, with drones equipped with cold chain facilities and a payload capacity of about two kilograms.

In addition to transporting medicines and vaccines, the drones will also carry blood, stool and urine samples from health centres to laboratories for testing. According to Veerapandian, the drone services are expected to commence from January.

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Bhopal (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said India made a strong but a bit late entry into the semiconductor industry, adding that the country will soon become self-reliant in the sector and start exporting.

He also said the geographical location of Madhya Pradesh is so attractive and its land so fertile that one can earn crores of rupees by investing even a small amount in the state.

Addressing the 'Abhyudaya Madhya Pradesh Growth Summit' here, he said, "We have made a strong entry into the semiconductor industry, although a bit late. In no time, we will not only become self-reliant in the semiconductor sector, but will also start exporting it."

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On the occasion, Shah inaugurated as well as performed the groundbreaking ceremony of industrial projects of Rs 2 lakh crore on the occasion of the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee.

Remembering Vajpayee, he said, "Atal ji was a great orator, a sensitive poet, a leader dedicated to public welfare and remained 'ajatashatru' (person without enemies) in politics."

Shah also paid tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on his birth anniversary and C Rajagopalachari on his death anniversary.

The Union minister said Madhya Pradesh was once considered a backward state in the field of electricity, but today it has surplus power.

In cleanliness also, the state has left the entire country behind, he said.

Shah also inaugurated the Gwalior Fair and dedicated to people the renovation work carried out at the Atal Museum on this occasion.

According to officials, 25,000 beneficiaries and thousands of entrepreneurs and investors are participating in the Growth Summit, organised to mark the birth anniversary of former PM Vajpayee.

These industrial projects will generate 1.93 lakh employment opportunities, an official said.