Prez Murmu urges families to encourage women to speak up about their health issues
Bengaluru, Jan 3: President Droupadi Murmu urged people on Friday to encourage women in their households to openly discuss their health-related issues.
Many times, women in a family do not receive timely diagnosis and treatment for their health issues. This may be due to traditional mindsets where addressing their health concerns is not a priority for the family, including the women themselves. Such delays, especially in cases of cancer, can be critical, said Murmu, delivering the key-note speech after inaugurating KLE Cancer Hospital in Belagavi.
She also emphasised that society, as a whole, needs to take women's health more seriously and actively contribute to their care, ensuring they receive timely and appropriate treatment.
Murmu highlighted a global study identifying cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide.
In 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths globally. In India, the incidence of cancer is approximately 100 cases for every one lakh people, she said.
She mentioned that, according to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the incidence of cancer in India is expected to increase by about 13 per cent in 2025 compared to 2020.
The setting up of a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Belagavi is a significant step toward providing specialised cancer treatment and palliative care to the people, Murmu said.
She also said that according to a globally respected medical journal, there has been a significant improvement in the timely initiation of cancer treatment due to the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana.
The duration between cancer diagnosis and the beginning of treatment has been reduced compared to the period before the launch of this scheme, particularly for low-income groups, Murmu added.
Now that the scope of the scheme has been expanded to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above, Murmu said this will further help senior citizens access affordable healthcare services for various diseases, including cancer.
The President also underscored the need for greater awareness regarding the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
"We come across many cases where, either due to the ignorance of the patient and family or financial constraints, the diagnosis and treatment of diseases are delayed. In the case of cancer, this can prove fatal," Murmu said.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi, who was also present, spoke about the origins of KLE Society in Belagavi.
"It was seven school teachers who came together nearly 100 years ago, contributing from their meagre salaries to start the KLE (Karnataka Lingayat Education) Society," he said.
Today, it has grown into a massive institution, running over 300 establishments engaged in education, healthcare, and research across Karnataka and Maharashtra, he added, expressing gratitude to the President for inaugurating the cancer hospital in Belagavi.
There was no full-fledged cancer hospital in this region, and people had to travel to Bengaluru for treatment, he added.
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Siddaramaiah urges youth to stay away from divisive forces misusing religion, caste
Davangere (Karnataka), Jan 5: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that divisive forces are misusing religion and caste to disrupt peace in Karnataka and the country, which hampers progress, and called upon the youth to stay away from such harmful influences and safeguard their future.
Speaking after inaugurating the state-level Yuvajanotsava (youth festival) programme here, he emphasised the importance of youth developing a socially responsible outlook.
"When youth grow with social consciousness, they become assets to the nation. To achieve this, they must pursue scientific and rational education, create equal opportunities, and contribute to society's progress," Siddaramaiah said.
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Urging young people to shape their future with a resolve to be assets rather than liabilities to the nation, he said, "The essence of the Constitution must be understood by everyone. It ensures economic, social, and political freedom for all citizens and allows everyone to practice their faith freely. It is because of this Constitution that I could become the chief minister. Protecting the Constitution is our responsibility."
The CM further stressed that "Instead of asking what the nation has done for us, we should reflect on what we have contributed to the nation. Many divisive forces misuse religion and caste to disturb peace and derail progress. Youth must distance themselves from such influences, cultivate humanity, and grow socially responsible. This will help preserve and strengthen democracy."
Highlighting the government's support for unemployed graduates, he said, "We have transferred funds to the accounts of 1.62 lakh young beneficiaries under the Yuva Nidhi scheme and are providing skill training. A budget of Rs 213 crore has been allocated for this. The government is committed to standing firmly with educated unemployed youth."
