Neurological disorders account for 70% of childhood disabilities: K'taka Health Minister Sudhakar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Saturday said, neurological disorders contribute to almost 70 per cent of the burden of disability in childhood, and could result in becoming a threat to the development of our country.
He said, mental health issues and non-communicable diseases are on the rise due to current food habits, lifestyle and sleep patterns.
"We now see that among all age groups from youngsters to adults to senior citizens, we are seeing a lot of mental health issues. Due to this, the quality of life is severely affected," Sudhakar said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 3rd Indian National Conference of COMHAD (Commonwealth Association for Health And Disability), the Minister said mental health care is an extremely important part of any health care system.
"The burden of neurological issues is ever-increasing in India and could become a threat to the growth and development of our country, both economically and socially. There is a rise in mental health and neurological issues including dementia, paralyzing stroke, epilepsy etc," the Minister said.
"We will need to create awareness about these issues starting from school children to working professionals. Neurological disorders contribute to almost 70 per cent of the burden of disability in childhood," he added.
Further noting that the state government has taken this up very passionately and have developed the Hub and Spoke' model in association with NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences), Sudhakar said, "What this means is that NIMHANS will act as a hub and the PHCs (Primary Health Centres) in all districts will act as spokes to work together to address the increasing mental health issues."
"We are trying to train MBBS doctors at the PHCs to diagnose and counsel patients with mental health needs," he added.
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ED in SC opposes interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, says electioneering not fundamental right
New Delhi (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday opposed in the Supreme Court the grant of interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, saying the right to campaign in elections is neither fundamental nor constitutional.
In a fresh affidavit filed in the top court, the ED said no political leader has ever been granted interim bail for campaigning even if he is not contesting polls.
"It is relevant to note that the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right," the agency said. It added that to its knowledge, "no political leader has been granted interim bail for campaigning even though he is not the contesting candidate. Even a contesting candidate is not granted interim bail if he is in custody for his own campaigning".
On Wednesday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who headed the bench that heard Kejriwal's petition against his arrest in the case, said, "We will pronounce the interim order (on bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken up on the same day."
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on March 21 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.
On May 7, the bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, had reserved its verdict on Kejriwal's interim bail plea.
On Tuesday, a Delhi court extended Kejriwal's judicial custody in the case till May 20.
The Delhi High Court had, on April 9, upheld the AAP leader's arrest, saying there was no illegality and the ED was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation.
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
