CPI leader approaches SC over foreign funds for Kerala flood
New Delhi, Aug 25: Binoy Viswam, Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, on Saturday approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to Centre to allow or accept funds from foreign governments and international organisation as assistance for Kerala Floods.
India has decided not to accept the financial help offered by foreign governments after the floods in Kerala. The UAE, Qatar and Maldives have pledged assistance to India for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the state.
Approaching the apex court, Viswam, a senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader, said that outright denial of funds from foreign governments and international organisations towards the Kerala flood relief fund for disaster management in Kerala would amount to an arbitrary action by the Centre.
Denial of foreign funds towards the flood relief would result in violation of Article 21 (right to life) of the people of Kerala, he said.
Viswam, who was forest minister in Kerala government, contended that Central government did not hold any consultation with he Kerala before refusing to accept the funds.
"The decision of the Central government is arbitrary and in violation of Article 14 (right to equality) and 21 guaranteed under the Constitution," the plea stated.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
