Shun false prestige, allow UAE to donate for Keral: Karat
Agartala, Aug 24 : The CPI-M politburo member Prakash Karat on Friday asked the Indian government to refrain from "false prestige" and allow United Arab Emirates (UAE) to donate Rs 700 crore for flood-hit Keral.
"The UAE has decided to give Rs 700 crore for the relief of flood-ravaged Kerala people, but the Indian government without consulting the state government declined to accept the donation," The Communist Party of India-Marxist leader said.
Terming the Government of India's decision as "uncalled for", he said that when a foreign government on its own is keen to provide help to the people affected by the devastated natural calamity, "central government should not stand on the false prestige."
"Kerala needs huge funds to deal with the massive devastation due to the colossal floods across the state. Central government must allow the UAE to release the amount," he added.
Karat, a former General Secretary of the country's biggest Left party CPI-M, said that thousands of Indians, 80 per cent of them from Kerala, have been working in the UAE.
"The Indian workers are engaged in many developmental works in UAE. Responding to the contributions of Indian workers, the UAE government wanted to donate the funds for the relief."
The CPI-M leader along with party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury came to The Tripura capital on Thursday to attend the party's two-day state committee meeting, which discussed various issues including "ongoing political violence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled state".
Accusing the Modi government for its "misgovernance on the economic front", Karat said that farmers, dalits and unemployed people are the victims of the BJP-led NDA government
"Sexual attacks on the minor girls are rampant in many BJP ruled states. Mob lynching in the name of cow slaughter, beef eating and child lifting have been going on. Despite Supreme Court's strong observations against the crime, mob lynching is going on in many parts of the country," he said.
The CPI-M leader said that the BJP-RSS leaders and cadres are continuously campaigning against the minorities and dalits creating a serious fear and hatred situation across the country.
He said that over two lakh farmers and workers would assemble in Delhi on September 5 to press for their demands, which include providing better wages, more jobs, better prices for farm produce, end to privatisation and changes in labour laws, ending the contract labour system.
"The Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally' would mark a new stage in the struggle of working people of India for a better life and just future," Karat added.
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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.
