K'taka HC issues notice to state over shortage of 16,000 medical professionals
Bengaluru, Jan 9: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the state and union governments over the reported shortage of over 16,000 medical professionals in the state.
The HC had taken cognisance of a newspaper report based on a study conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and directed the Registrar General to file a public interest litigation.
Acting on the PIL, the bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit issued the notices and adjourned the hearing.
The PIL has sought direction to the government for filling up all the vacancies for medical practitioners and to submit a report on the strategies for implementing the budgetary allocation on healthcare and health infrastructure.
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"The health services in Karnataka are in dire straits, particularly in rural areas. With the alarming rise in epidemics, state health services which are understaffed and ill-equipped to handle the increase in patients will collapse," the PIL states.
Further, the PIL says that there is a "complete lack of coordination and supervision on part of the Respondent No.2 (Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka) while various health strategies are being implemented and, therefore, are far from achieving the desired results." The FICCI report "$1 Trillion Economy Karnataka's Vision" had noted the shortage of primary health centres in 454 rural areas. The report mentioned the shortfall of 723 MBBS doctors, 7,492 nurses, 1,517 lab technicians, 1,512 pharmacists, 1,752 attendants and 3,253 Group D staff.
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Karnataka approves railway barricades in Madikeri, Nagarhole to curb human-elephant conflict
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday said a 7-km railway barricade has been approved for the Madikeri division and 20 km for the Nagarhole division in 2025–26 to curb human-elephant conflict in the regions.
Responding to a proposal raised by BJP MLC Suja Kushalappa during Zero Hour in the Legislative Council, he assured that work on the proposed railway barricades would begin soon.
Citing the death of a 17-year-old girl in an elephant attack on February 28 and that of a tribal woman on March 9 in the state, the minister said these deaths caused by elephant attacks were "extremely painful".
"Human life is very precious and cannot be valued in monetary terms. The Forest Department is taking all measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict."
The minister further said steps such as maintenance of elephant-proof trenches and solar-powered fencing were being undertaken, while two elephant task forces were currently in operation.
Orders have also been issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden to capture two rogue elephants.
In both cases, Rs 5 lakh compensation has already been disbursed to the families of the deceased, and the remaining Rs 15 lakh each will be provided within a week, he added.
Khandre said the government was making sincere efforts to find a permanent solution to the human–elephant conflict.
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