CM takes dig at BJP's drought study tour, says it should approach Centre and get relief for state
Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at BJP's state-wide drought study tour, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asked the opposition party to approach the Central government and ensure that the state gets the relief funds at the earliest.
Pointing out the delay in release of drought relief funds from the Centre, he also questioned the BJP's concern for the state and its farmers.
In Karnataka, 216 out of the total 236 taluks have been declared drought-hit by the state government.
"Let them do it. The Central team has already come and studied the drought situation. They have not yet submitted the report to the Government of India. Here, the BJP, for the sake of politics, are saying that they will go on a drought study tour," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about the saffron party's ongoing drought study tour.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, let BJP leaders go to the Central government instead, and ensure that the state gets drought relief funds at the earliest.
"The Central team has already studied the situation. We have also studied. Let them study. I don't have any objection. I'm not saying that they should not study, but it's been long since we sent the memorandum to the Central government seeking relief, and the Central team visiting the state. They (Central team) have not yet given the report and the Union government has not yet released relief," he added.
The BJP has formed 17 teams headed by leaders, including former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, to tour all 33 districts of the state and assess the drought situation till November 10.
The party has said that it will submit a report to the government, and seek special time in the next Assembly session for a debate on the issue.
Pointing out that the state has sought a drought relief of Rs 17,900 crore as per norms, while the actual loss is to the tune of Rs 33,700 crore, Siddaramaiah said, if BJP leaders have concerns about the state's villages, farmers, and Karnataka, let them ensure that the state receives relief funds at the earliest.
"There are 25 MPs (of BJP from the state), let them sit there (in Delhi) and get it done," he said, alleging that the concerned Central Ministers did not even give an appointment to the state's ministerial team, who had gone to Delhi, to meet them and appraise them of the situation.
"What concern do they (BJP) have for Karnataka?" he questioned.
Responding to a question about JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy's purported statement alleging that the drought survey was not done scientifically, the CM said, "Who did the survey? The Central team comes under whom? Let him blame the Union government for stating that they have not done it scientifically."
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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.
