Andamans MP receives Sansad Ratna Award for third time in row
Port Blair, Feb 17: Andaman and Nicobar Islands MP Kuldeep Rai Sharma on Saturday received the Sansad Ratna Award for the third consecutive year.
Five MPs received the award for their outstanding performance, at a function held at New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.
Apart from the Congress' Andamans MP, BJP's Sukanta Majumdar and Sudheer Gupta, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Eknath Shinde and NCP's Amol Ramsing Kolhe also received the award.
A source in the Andamans MP office stated that Sharma had raised many issues for the betterment of the archipelago and its people, and had not only participated in parliamentary debates but also demonstrated a high level of professionalism in discharging his responsibilities as a lawmaker.
Among the issues raised by him in the House were filling up of nearly 10,000 government job vacancies in the islands, AIIMS for the Union territory, sending of specialist doctors to the archipelago on deputation, ultrasound facility in all PHCs, provision of 200 sq metres of land for all landless people in the islands, establishment of a central university and laying of optical fibres from Puri to Diglipur, the source said.
He also raised the issues of the creation of the Andaman and Nicobar Service Commission, the construction of an alternate highway along the coastline, building a bridge from Minnie Bay to Mithakhari and the introduction of the Udaan scheme in the islands, the source said.
Speaking to PTI over the phone, the MP said, "I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious Sansad Ratna Award for the third consecutive year. This recognition belongs not just to me, but to each and every islander who trusted me to represent their voice in Parliament. The journey doesn't end here. With the unwavering support of my people, I stand firm in my resolve to fight for a brighter future for all islanders."
"Over the past five years, I have relentlessly fought for the issues that matter most to our island community. Filling vacant posts, establishing AIIMS, improving healthcare access, and securing land rights are just a few of the countless areas where I have strived to make a difference. This award serves as a powerful validation of our collective efforts and reaffirms my commitment to continue serving you with even greater dedication," he said.
"While this recognition is personally gratifying, it also carries a heavier responsibility. It compels me to push even harder, raise even more critical issues, and deliver even more concrete results for our beloved Andaman and Nicobar Islands," he added.
The Sansad Ratna Award, considered one of the highest honours for parliamentarians, is bestowed upon those who exhibit exemplary dedication and competence in their roles.
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Bird flu: Karnataka completes 10-day H5N1 surveillance, containment operation
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has successfully completed a 10-day intensive surveillance and containment operation following the detection of the H5N1 Avian Influenza outbreak here, officials said on Saturday.
The outbreak was reported in the State Poultry Rearing Training Centre in Mathkuru village, Hesaraghatta, on April 14, they said.
The surveillance was conducted by the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the state government in coordination with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department, officials said.
According to an official statement, once the outbreak was confirmed, following laboratory reports from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD-Bhopal), State and District Rapid Response Teams along with Hesaraghatta and Sonnenahalli PHC (Primary Health Centres) teams were immediately deployed.
An infected zone of 0-3 km and a surveillance zone of 3-10 km radius was established. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, culled all the birds and safely disposed of eggs and of contaminated feed, adhering to national and international biosecurity protocols, it said.
The health department said the surveillance zone from the infective focus in the 10 km radius, a total population of 28,172 across 22 villages was surveyed from day 1 to day 10. Multiple rounds of surveillance were conducted and sanitation activities were completed as per protocol.
During the surveillance period, nasopharyngeal samples collected from all quarantined staff on Day 5, sent to NIV-Bengaluru, were found to be negative for H5N1, it said.
On day 10, nasopharyngeal samples were collected and the results are awaited. No human case of H5N1 infection has been detected in the infected or surveillance zones, the health officials said.
"All healthcare facilities in Bengaluru have been instructed to continue ILI/SARI (Influenza-Like Illness/Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) case surveillance, and ensure adequate stocks of PPE, triple-layer medical masks, oseltamivir, viral transport medium, and throat swab kits," it said.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services issued a Sanitization Certificate on April 21, officials said.
"No poultry activity will be undertaken for a period of 90 days as a precautionary measure. During the three months of surveillance, the entire area of the farm will be repeatedly disinfected by fumigation (indoors) or sprays (open place) every 15 days," it further stated.
The public has been advised to avoid handling or consuming meat or eggs from sick or dead poultry and report sightings of sick or dead birds promptly to local veterinary or health authorities.
Ensure poultry meat and eggs are thoroughly cooked before consumption, as proper cooking effectively inactivates the virus, they said.
"The public is advised to follow official health advisories and avoid spreading unverified information," the department added.
