Each BPL family to be given health benefit up to Rs 5 lakh: Minister Shivanand Patil
MRPL-sponsored equipment distributed
Mangaluru, September 18: Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Arogya Karnataka Scheme, each BPL family would be given free healthcare facility up to Rs 5 lakh in the state, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Shivanand Patil.
After distributing the medical equipment to the physically disabled children, sponsored by the MRPL worth Rs 1.85 crore, at the town hall here on Tuesday, he said that under the both the programmes, the state government has planned to give treatment to over 1600 diseases. Total 1.20 crore families would get the benefit of this scheme, he said.
Due to scarcity of doctors in government hospitals, the government has appointed 420 doctors including 180 specialist doctors and 240 doctors and 1618 nurses were appointed. In coming days, few more hundred doctors and other staff would be appointed to ensure good healthcare facilities to the people, he said.
The state government has taken steps to give compensation to the endosulfan affected people on the line of Kerala. Their annual pension was increased by 33 percent and priority was being given to them in government appointment, he said hailing the contribution of the MRPL.
Presiding over the programme, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the state government has done a good job by merging the Arogya Karnataka with Ayushman Bharat Yojana of the central government and appreciated the contribution of the MRPL to the district.
MLA Dr Y Bharat Shetty, ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu, vice president Kasturi Panja, standing committee president Anitha Hemanath Shetty, MRPL Group Manager (HR) BHB Prasad, Group Manager (Finance) Subrata Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Commissioner Saskinath Senthil, ZP CEO Dr MR Ravi, Wenlock, Lady Goschen Hospital Joint Director Dr Damayanti Krishnamohan, Wenlock hospital district surgeon Dr Rajeshwari Devi, DHO Dr M Ramakrishna Rao, physically disabled district nodal officer Dr Rathnakar, woman and child welfare department deputy director Sundar Poojary and others were present.
Equipment worth Rs 1.85 cr distributed
The MRPL, in association with the district health and family welfare department, has distributed medical equipment worth Rs 1.85 crore for physically disabled and children’s care centres. Tricycles, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, and other materials were distributed to 1093 physically disabled and TV, fans, washing machines, books, desks, benches and others were given to 71 child care centres on the occasion.
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Virudhunagar firecracker unit blast: Toll climbs to 25, Rs 5.5 lakh ex gratia announced
Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): With most bodies charred beyond recognition, identification remains difficult, police said on Monday, as the toll in the massive explosion at a fireworks unit near Kattanarpatti here rose to 25.
The Virudhunagar district administration has announced Rs 5.5 lakh ex gratia to the kin of deceased.
The accident is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the region in recent years.
"Bodies were so badly charred that we were able to identify mostly with jewellery that the victims were wearing," a police official told PTI.
He said that the families have not yet claimed the bodies due to the uncertainly in the identities.
The factory owner is absconding, he added.
The accident occurred at the Vanaja firecracker unit, owned by one Muthumanickam, which functions under the Vachakarapatti police station limits.
The unit is reportedly licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur.
Post-mortem reports have established that the 25 victims, include 22 women and three men, the police official added.
Eight workers, mostly women, are critically injured with 60 per cent burn injuries. Twelve others, including eight policemen, were injured in a second blast on Sunday evening while rescue operations were underway.
Rescue operations were severely hampered for hours, as unexploded materials continued to detonate.
A second blast at 7.20 pm, triggered as an earthmover was clearing debris, caused chaos and injured several responders, including a revenue official.
Meanwhile, sources said about 1,000 people, including the families of the victims and residents of nearby villages, are threatening a road roko, demanding the arrest of the owner of the factory.
Local eyewitnesses, including Ranganathan from the nearby Seervaikarampatti village, described hearing a massive blast that sent "thick black smoke" into the sky.
"Nothing was recognisable. We saw bodies being loaded four at a time into vehicles," he told PTI Videos.
Many of the deceased were from Seervaikarampatti village, with residents claiming that at least 20 victims belonged to their village.
Among those killed was 46-year-old Indrani, a veteran worker of 25 years.
"My mother was the sole breadwinner. My father is disabled and stays home. I have an MSc degree, but I’m working at a petrol bunk to help out, and we haven't even paid my brother's school fees yet," said Madhubala, Indrani’s daughter, while pleading for government employment assistance.
Virudhunagar Collector N O Sukhaputra confirmed that the unit was operating without permission on a rest day.
Preliminary findings suggest the blast originated in a chemical mixing shed, where nearly 40 workers were busy making crackers, a violation of safety norms that typically limit occupancy to four workers per shed.
"Had these workers followed primary safety norms, the casualties could have been minimal," a senior official stated.
Chief Minister M K Stalin has ordered a high-level probe and directed ministers to oversee relief efforts.
The tragedy follows a similar accident in Vembakottai just days earlier, which claimed four lives, intensifying calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in the district’s firecracker hub.
The explosion occurred at approximately 3.15 pm on Sunday. Although the fireworks industry is officially shut on Sundays, over 100 workers were reportedly engaged in production.
Later in the day, Sukhaputra said Rs 5.5 lakh ex gratia each has been finalised for the families of 25 persons killed in the explosion.
Speaking to PTI Videos, he said the ex gratia cheques are ready for immediate distribution to the legal heirs.
"Out of 25 deaths, we have finished conducting post-mortems on 22 bodies. Already we have cheques (that) are ready,” Sukhaputra said.
The announcement followed intense demands from grieving relatives for financial security and government employment.
