Mangaluru, September 18: Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Arogya Karnataka Scheme, each BPL family would be given free healthcare facility up to Rs 5 lakh in the state, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Shivanand Patil.

After distributing the medical equipment to the physically disabled children, sponsored by the MRPL worth Rs 1.85 crore, at the town hall here on Tuesday, he said that under the both the programmes, the state government has planned to give treatment to over 1600 diseases. Total  1.20 crore families would get the benefit of this scheme, he said.

Due to scarcity of doctors in government hospitals, the government has appointed 420 doctors including 180 specialist doctors and 240 doctors and 1618 nurses were appointed. In coming days, few more hundred doctors and other staff would be appointed to ensure good healthcare facilities to the people, he said.

The state government has taken steps to give compensation to the endosulfan affected  people on the line of Kerala. Their annual pension was increased by 33 percent and priority was being given to them in government appointment, he said hailing the contribution of the MRPL.

Presiding over the programme,  MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the state government has done a good job by merging the Arogya Karnataka with Ayushman Bharat Yojana of the central government and appreciated the contribution of the MRPL to the district.

MLA Dr Y Bharat Shetty, ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu, vice president Kasturi Panja, standing committee president Anitha Hemanath Shetty, MRPL Group Manager (HR) BHB Prasad, Group Manager (Finance) Subrata Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Commissioner Saskinath Senthil, ZP CEO Dr MR Ravi, Wenlock, Lady Goschen Hospital Joint Director Dr Damayanti Krishnamohan, Wenlock hospital district surgeon Dr Rajeshwari Devi, DHO Dr M Ramakrishna Rao, physically disabled district nodal officer Dr Rathnakar, woman and child welfare department deputy director Sundar Poojary and others were present.

Equipment worth Rs 1.85 cr distributed

The MRPL, in association with the district health and family welfare department, has distributed medical equipment worth Rs 1.85 crore for physically disabled and children’s care centres. Tricycles, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, and other materials were distributed to 1093 physically disabled and TV, fans, washing machines, books, desks, benches and others were given to 71 child care centres on the occasion.



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Pune (PTI): Schools, colleges and other educational institutions in several parts of Pune will remain closed on Monday in view of 'Pune Grand Tour 2026', an international cycling event, officials said on Sunday.

The decision has been taken as the prologue race of the event will be held in the city on Monday, for which major roads will remain closed to traffic from 9 am to 6 pm, they said.

The Pune traffic department has issued directives about road closures for the cycle race in key areas, including Ganesh Khind, Jangli Maharaj and Fergusson roads.

The five-day Continental Road Cycling Race for Men, from January 19 to 23, will wind through a 437 km route across the Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri Range, featuring sharp bends and challenging elevations.

The event has attracted 171 riders from 29 teams across 35 countries.

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi issued orders declaring a one-day holiday for educational institutions located in the areas of Fergusson College, Ganeshkhind, Jangli Maharaj and adjoining internal roads to avoid inconvenience to students and parents.

The holiday will apply to all anganwadis, government and private schools, junior and senior colleges, and professional educational institutions in the limits of Shivajinagar-Ghole Road, Vishrambaugwada-Kasba, Dhole Patil Road, Bhawani Peth, Aundh-Baner, Kothrud-Bavdhan, Sinhagad Road and Warje-Karvenagar ward offices.

Police have appealed to the citizens to use the Metro and avoid commuting by road.