Udupi model of 'Vatsalya' scheme to be replicated in the state: CM Basavaraj Bommai
Udupi, Aug 12: The 'Vatsalya' scheme launched in Udupi district for children will be replicated across Karnataka in view of the apprehensions of some experts that the third wave of COVID-19 may affect kids most, Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai said on Thursday.
"In Udupi, 'Vatsalya' (meaning affection) scheme has been launched. The same has to be implemented in Mangaluru and across the State. In the next one and half months a health checkup of all the children will be carried out. Such camps should be held in every school of the state. If there is any shortcoming in the nutrition then it should be improved," Bommai told reporters here.
He opined that the nutrition intake is low among a section of children from economically weaker sections and rural areas leading to their "under-growth", lack of immunity, and malnourishment.
"In order to identify them, health camps have to be organised. If there is any shortcoming in the nutrition then it should be improved," Bommai added.
He added that some medical experts are of the view that the third wave may hit children the most. Hence, a special drive will be launched under 'Vatsalya'.
Bommai said he would hold a meeting with experts next week as part of efforts to contain COVID-19.
Bommai, who visited Dakshina Kannada district to review COVID-19 situation, said he has been noticing that the positivity rate was going up after the second wave was over.
"I have taken the increasing number of COVID cases very seriously. I don't want to trouble people with lockdowns with the increase in COVID cases. Prevention is better than cure," he said.
The Chief Minister also explained the measures being taken to contain COVID cases such as restrictions on the border, tracking and tracing of the infected people, improving health infrastructure, strengthening the taskforce and activating the triaging at the village level, and increasing vaccination.
Dakshina Kannada, which borders Kerala, has been the major COVID-19 hotspot leaving behind other districts of the state for the past many days.
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru as many as 543 children up to the age to 19 have been infected with COVID-19 since August one, details shared by Bengaluru civic agency show.
However, there were zero fatalities among those children.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
