PM Modi leads mega roadshow in Guwahati
Guwahati (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a massive roadshow in Guwahati on Saturday evening, witnessing diverse cultural elements of Assam on the first day of his two-day tour to the state.
The roadshow began outside the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Sarusajai on National Highway 27, and concluded at the state BJP headquarters near Basistha Chariali.
Modi, who was sitting in the front of his black SUV, was seen waving to the enthusiastic crowd that gathered on both sides of the road. The air reverberated with resounding chants of 'Modi-ji zindabad' and 'Bharat Mata ki jai', creating an electrifying atmosphere.
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, and state BJP president Dilip Saikia joined the roadshow in their respective vehicles.
The roadshow was a showcase of the BJP's strength in Assam, where assembly polls would be due early next year.
The event was marked by a strong presence of BJP workers and volunteers, who had tried hard to ensure a grand reception for the PM.
Several platforms were erected on the roadside to showcase cultural performances from various parts of the state.
"We tried to present a cultural showcase of dance, songs and instruments from our ethnic and indigenous tribes," the party's state media relations convenor Dhruba Jyoti Maral said.
He claimed that more than 50,000 people gathered to witness the roadshow, which was held amid a heavy security deployment.
After landing in Guwahati, the PM unveiled a statue of the state's first CM Gopinath Bordoloi, and a new terminus of the airport, and addressed a public meeting on the occasion.
He then went to Sarusajai for the roadshow. After it concluded, he chaired a crucial meeting with the BJP's state leadership, with an eye on next year's assembly polls.
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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.
