Dy CM Shivakumar takes a dig at BJP, JD(S) over drought study tour, says it is for "publicity"
Bengaluru (PTI): Dubbing BJP and JD(S)' drought study tour as "publicity," Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday asked their parliamentarians and legislators to instead meet the Prime Minister and Central Ministers concerned and ensure that the state gets the relief.
Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, accused the Centre of "discrimination" in providing drought relief to the state.
While the BJP is undertaking a drought study tour across the state in teams, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy had recently said that his party would undertake the 'Raita Santwana Yatre' (tour to console farmers) probably in December.
"The BJP and JD(S) leaders are going on a drought study tour out of compassion," he said, mocking the two parties.
"Already, the Karnataka government has conducted a survey and has submitted a memorandum to the Central government which has even sent a team of officials to assess the situation," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, 26 MPs of the BJP and JD(S), along with 66 and 19 MLAs respectively from both parties should go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Central Ministers and get relief funds to the state.
"Instead of going (on a tour) for the sake of publicity and inspecting two (agricultural) plants (saplings) and coming back is not right, we have already seen plants, if you want -- go and take publicity -- but also ensure that the state benefits from you, that's important.
We are not begging in front of your Central government, we are asking the Centre to release relief funds as per rules, it's our right," he added.
Karnataka has declared 216 out of the total 236 taluks in the state as drought-hit. The government has estimated losses in excess of Rs 33,770 crore, and has sought a Central drought relief of Rs 17,900 crore as per norms.
Noting that Rs 800 crore is available with deputy commissioners to handle the drought situation, the Deputy Chief Minister said, instructions have been given to use the funds for drinking water, fodder and other needs.
With more than 200 taluks reeling under drought, the state had decided to increase Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) man-days of work from 100 days to 150 days, and has written to Centre in this regard, he said, adding, it has been about two months, but there is no response in this regard from the Union government.
"I urge all our MPs, 66 BJP MLAs and 19 JD(S) MLAs, who H D Kumaraswamy claims are in alliance with the BJP and are part of NDA -- let them do politics, we don't have objection -- but, if they have concern for the state, let them ensure that the state gets funds from the Centre, and also see to it that man-days under MNREGA is increased to 150," he said, adding that if they don't give, the state government has decided to do it by itself and bear the cost.
Responding to a question on alleged controversy about the Congress deputing Karnataka Ministers for the poll campaign in Telangana and other election responsibilities, despite the drought in many parts of the state, Shivakumar, before leaving for Telangana for campaigning today said: "Not too many, we have only deputed five to six Ministers, even when the BJP was in power they had done so."
Also, about 40 Congress legislators have been deputed and they too will be going to Telangana, he said and added that Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who was also deputed, has been asked not to go, as he will be required in the state amid the drought situation.
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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.
