More than half under-5 kids in Lakhimpur Kheri stunted; groundwater heavily contaminated with arsenic
Lakhimpur Kheri, also known as mini-Punjab of Uttar Pradesh, is a new flashpoint in India’s most populous state that goes to poll early next year. On October 3, eight people were killed in the district in violent clashes. Geographically, Kheri is UP’s largest district and contributes 3.38% to the state’s agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector GDP. However, the district fares poor on several social and health indicators.
Shivani Gupta
Has Ashish Mishra, accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, escaped to Nepal?
Ashish Mishra aka ‘Monu bhaiya’, son of the Union minister of state for home affairs Ajay Mishra, has skipped the first summon by the Uttar Pradesh Police. As per unconfirmed reports, Ashish Mishra may have escaped to Nepal. BJP workers refute these charges.
Shivani Gupta
After being detained for over 33 hours, Priyanka Gandhi officially arrested; no FIR against her
Yesterday, October 4, Priyanka Gandhi was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police when she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri where eight people were killed a day earlier in violent clashes. More than 33 hours later, she was arrested today.
Shivani Gupta
Apart from farmers and BJP workers, a journalist, Raman Kashyap, too died in Lakhimpur Kheri violence
Among those killed yesterday in the killings at Lakhimpur Kheri was a local reporter – Raman Kashyap – who was cremated today at his native village Nighasan. He is survived by his wife, and two kids — a 7-8 years old daughter and 3-4 years old son. Gaon Connection spoke with Kashyap’s close friend to know the series of events that led to the journalist’s death.
Shivani Gupta
UP govt hikes honorarium for anganwadi workers, but they call it an eyewash
After statewide protests by anganwadi workers demanding a hike in monthly honorarium, the state government announced a performance based incentive hike for the agitating workers. But, they are not pleased.
Shivani Gupta
Odisha to become the first Indian state to include millets, pulses, vegetables in mid day meals and ration scheme
The Odisha government has decided to include pulses, millets, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables in its government welfare programmes, including meals offered at anganwadis and mid day meals at schools. Local recipes, millet laddus, sprouted green gram, crop diversification, women empowerment to be the focus of the initiative.
Shivani Gupta
40 kids dead in past one month in tribal belt of Melghat, Maharashtra; Bombay HC slams state govt
While hearing a PIL, the Bombay High Court took note of the deaths of 40 children under the age of six years who had died in August last month amid lack of health facilities in Melghat. The court has demanded quick action to improve the health facilities in the tribal region.
Shivani Gupta
Environmentalists raise concern over threat to Bhitarkanika mangroves in Odisha due to diversion of fresh water
Irrigation canal network of the Rengali mega water project in Angul district is expected to lead to withdrawal of huge quantities of fresh water from Brahmani River thereby affecting supply of freshwater to Bhitarkanika wetland. Experts demand a plan to maintain the fresh water flow.
Shivani Gupta
Aspirants with upper limb disabilities debarred from NEET’s nursing examination; health professionals want discriminatory clause repealed
The government bodies have restricted five per cent of reservation in B.Sc Nursing only to those with 40-50 per cent lower limb disabilities. People with other forms of disabilities will miss out on the 2022 batch for nursing whose exam is scheduled for September 12. Health professionals write to the Union health ministry against the discriminatory clause.
Shivani Gupta
Is mandatory food fortification a boon or bane?
In a bid to address malnutrition and anaemia in the country, the Indian government has decided to provide rice fortified with iron under its PDS and mid-day meal schemes from 2024. Many public health and nutrition experts oppose the decision.