Odisha tightens security in Kandhamal over VHP leader’s death anniversary on Janmashtami day
Phulbani (PTI): The authorities have made elaborate security arrangements for holding a peaceful ‘Janmashtami’ celebration on Monday, which will also be observed as the death anniversary of slain VHP leader Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati.
Saraswati, along with his four disciples, was gun downed at his Jalespeta ashram in the district while celebrating Janmashtami Mohastav on August 23, 2008, triggering widespread violence that left 43 people dead.
Two senior ministers of the BJP government - Rabi Narayan Naik and Suryabansi Suraj - are scheduled to attend Saraswati’s death anniversary programme on Monday, said Jalespeta ashram chief Jiban Muktananda Pujari.
Southern Range DIG JN Pankaj and senior police officers on Sunday visited the ashram and reviewed security arrangements made for the occasion, an official said.
Security in entire Kandhamal district was tightened by deploying armed police personnel who conducted patrolling and naka checking at vulnerable places, Superintendent of Police Suvendu Kumar Patra told PTI.
Elaborate security arrangement has been made at Saraswati’s two ashrams in the district at Jalespeta and Chakapada, the SP said.
The VHP leader’s killing in 2008 led to large-scale communal violence in the district, leaving 43 people dead, 395 churches attacked and thousands of houses plundered or burnt rendering 75,000 odd people homeless.
Patra said peace committee meetings have been held inviting leaders of both communities, prominent persons, political leaders and others.
The people have also been asked through the public announcement system not to pay any heed to rumours, he said.
“We have kept strict vigil over the situation and assured people of the best of the service of the administration during the celebrations and nothing to be worried upon," said Amrit Rituraj the Collector and DM.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
