News for 'Health Department'

Be Prepared! Heat Waves Coming!

Be Prepared! Heat Waves Coming!

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

'The intensity and frequency of heatwaves will be much higher than in previous years over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.'

'We removed our bindis, started chanting Allahu Akbar'

'We removed our bindis, started chanting Allahu Akbar'

Rediff.com24 Apr 2025

A Pune-based woman, whose husband was killed by terrorists in Pahalgam, recounted how she and other women in the group quickly removed bindis from their foreheads and began chanting "Allahu Akbar" when they saw the attackers asking men to recite 'azaan'. But the frantic attempts to hide their religious identity failed to help as the gun-wielding terrorists did not spare the woman's husband and his friend, who was also from Pune. Sangita Ganbote, the wife of Kaustubh Ganbote who was among the 26 persons killed by terrorists at Baisaran near Pahalgam, also said that when a local Muslim man confronted the attackers and asked why they were killing innocent people, they stripped him and shot him dead.

'Jhoot brigade': Cong slams BJP after FinMin report on USAID

'Jhoot brigade': Cong slams BJP after FinMin report on USAID

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

The latest annual report of the finance ministry has disclosed that the agency funded seven projects worth USD 750 million in 2023-24.

SC constitutes task force to address student suicides

SC constitutes task force to address student suicides

Rediff.com24 Mar 2025

The Supreme Court of India has formed a National Task Force (NTF) to address the growing concern of student suicides in higher educational institutions. The court took note of the recurring cases and directed Delhi Police to register FIRs on the complaints of families of two students who died by suicide at IIT Delhi in 2023. The NTF, chaired by former apex court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat, will prepare a comprehensive report, including the identification of causes leading to suicides, analysis of existing regulations, and recommendations for strengthening protections. The NTF will also have the authority to conduct surprise inspections of higher educational institutions and make further recommendations to ensure a holistic approach to addressing mental health concerns and eliminating suicides.

After 2-hr delay, meeting between Mamata, doctors begins

After 2-hr delay, meeting between Mamata, doctors begins

Rediff.com16 Sep 2024

The first round of talks between the West Bengal government and the agitating junior doctors began at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat on Monday evening to address the RG Kar impasse.

Avian flu? 4 lakh chicken die in Andhra district

Avian flu? 4 lakh chicken die in Andhra district

Rediff.com5 Feb 2025

Nearly four lakh chickens have died in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh and vicinity over the past 45 days, prompting the Animal Husbandry Department to send samples for testing to ascertain the cause. Avian influenza is suspected, but the cause is yet to be confirmed.

Singapore's ruling party sweeps back to power

Singapore's ruling party sweeps back to power

Rediff.com4 May 2025

Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP), led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, has secured a landslide victory in the country's general election. The PAP won 87 of 97 seats, with voters endorsing the party's focus on stability and economic security amidst global uncertainties. Wong expressed gratitude for the strong mandate and vowed to tackle concerns about the cost of living and housing. The results mark a significant win for the PAP, which has been in power since Singapore's independence in 1965.

U'khand avalanche: 4 labourers die, 50 rescued; search for 5 on

U'khand avalanche: 4 labourers die, 50 rescued; search for 5 on

Rediff.com1 Mar 2025

The avalanche hit the BRO camp between Mana and Badrinath between 5:30 am and 6 am on Friday, burying the workers inside eight containers and a shed, according to the Army.

Talks between protesting doctors, Bengal govt fail to break ice

Talks between protesting doctors, Bengal govt fail to break ice

Rediff.com10 Oct 2024

Agitating junior doctors, whose nine representatives are on a fast-unto-death demonstration, termed talks with senior officials of the West Bengal government as 'the most disappointing meeting so far'.

Bengal junior doctors continue indefinite hunger strike

Bengal junior doctors continue indefinite hunger strike

Rediff.com6 Oct 2024

Agitating junior doctors demanding justice for the deceased woman medic of the Kar Medical College and Hospital and workplace safety continued their hunger strike until death on Sunday in the central part of the Kolkata's Dharmatala area.

Hemant Soren distributes portfolios; keeps home, gives finance to Cong

Hemant Soren distributes portfolios; keeps home, gives finance to Cong

Rediff.com6 Dec 2024

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has distributed portfolios among the new ministers, keeping key departments such as Home, Personnel, and several others to himself. The Congress' Radhakrishna Kishore was given Finance, Commercial Tax, Planning and Development Department, and Parliamentary Affairs departments. JMM's Deepak Biruwa was allotted the departments of Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms (non-registration), and Transport. Chamra Linda, another JMM leader, was allotted the departments of Schedule Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes (except Minority Welfare). RJD's Sanjay Prasad Yadav was given the departments of Industries, and Labour, Planning, Training and Skill Development. The Congress' Irfan Ansari got Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, besides Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, and Disaster Management departments. The chief minister also kept to himself the departments of Cabinet Secretariat, Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Official Language, Road Construction, Building Construction, and those departments yet to be distributed to anyone. Among the other ministers, JMM's Ramdas Soren was given the School Education and Literacy, and Registration departments. Party colleague Hafizul Hasan was allotted the departments of Water Resources, and Minority Welfare Department. Panchayati Raj, Rural Works, and Rural Development departments were given to Congress MLA Deepika Pandey Singh. The CM gave Drinking Water and Sanitation, and Excise and Prohibition departments to JMM's Yogendra Prasad. JMM legislator Sudhivya Kumar became the minister for Urban Development and Housing, Higher and Technical Education, and Tourism, Art Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs departments. Shilpi Neha Tirkey of the Congress was allotted Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Department. A total of 11 MLAs took oath as ministers in the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand on Thursday.

IT professionals join stir as protests continue to rock Kolkata

IT professionals join stir as protests continue to rock Kolkata

Rediff.com20 Aug 2024

Chanting 'Justice for RG Kar' and 'Justice for our sister', hundreds of IT professionals took to the streets of Sector V in Salt Lake, the city's IT Hub, protesting against the rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital.

HMPV: 2 cases detected in Maha; Centre asks states to step up surveillance

HMPV: 2 cases detected in Maha; Centre asks states to step up surveillance

Rediff.com7 Jan 2025

The Indian government has advised states to intensify surveillance for respiratory illnesses, including influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARI), following the detection of five human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in the country. The decision comes amidst reports of a surge in HMPV cases in China. The Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, chaired a virtual meeting with states and union territories to discuss the situation and public health measures. While there is no cause for public concern, the government is emphasizing the importance of preventive measures such as handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with those showing symptoms.

Maha portfolio allocation: Fadnavis gets Home, Ajit Finance, Shinde...

Maha portfolio allocation: Fadnavis gets Home, Ajit Finance, Shinde...

Rediff.com21 Dec 2024

Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse is the new school education minister while Uday Samant continues to be the industries minister.

2 dead as under-construction building collapses in Mohali

2 dead as under-construction building collapses in Mohali

Rediff.com22 Dec 2024

The collapse of a three-storey building in Punjab's Mohali has claimed two lives, with rescuers pulling out the body of a man and a fatally injured woman from under the rubble during a multi-agency 23-hour rescue operation that concluded Sunday evening, officials said.

Bengal junior doctors resume 'total cease work'

Bengal junior doctors resume 'total cease work'

Rediff.com1 Oct 2024

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal resumed their indefinite 'total cease work' on Tuesday to press for various demands, including ensuring their safety and security at all medical establishments.

Bihar forms task force to combat child marriages

Bihar forms task force to combat child marriages

Rediff.com9 Mar 2025

The Bihar government has formed a state-level task force to monitor actions taken by authorities to prevent and eradicate child marriages in the state. Bihar has the second-highest rate of child marriage in India, with 40.8% of women getting married before turning 18. The government is implementing a multipronged strategy to combat child marriage, including stricter enforcement of the law, empowering girls through education, and raising awareness.

Heatwave: Centre asks states to review health preparedness

Heatwave: Centre asks states to review health preparedness

Rediff.com1 May 2022

In a letter to the states/UTs on Saturday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan requested them to disseminate the guideline document 'National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses' to all districts for effective management of cases of heatwave.

Bengal junior doctors call off 'cease work' after 42 days

Bengal junior doctors call off 'cease work' after 42 days

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

Ending the logjam persisting for 42 days in the wake of the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar hospital, the agitating medics withdrew the 'cease work' after holding a march to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Salt Lake in Kolkata from the state health department's headquarters, where they had been demonstrating for over a week.

India's next big business op: Hub for undersea cables?

India's next big business op: Hub for undersea cables?

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

While India has become the largest data generating nation, and hosts more than 152 data centres, it is fed by only 18 undersea cables.

Why are tigers in Maharashtra dying?

Why are tigers in Maharashtra dying?

Rediff.com18 Mar 2025

'The true measure of Project Tiger's success is not just rising tiger numbers, but our ability to ensure harmonious human-wildlife coexistence'

Kerala Nursing Council to bar ragging accused from further studies

Kerala Nursing Council to bar ragging accused from further studies

Rediff.com15 Feb 2025

Amid widespread outrage over the brutal ragging incident at the Government Nursing College in Kottayam, the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council (KNMC) on Saturday decided to bar all five accused students from continuing their studies.

Bengal junior docs threaten hunger strike, give govt 24-hr deadline

Bengal junior docs threaten hunger strike, give govt 24-hr deadline

Rediff.com5 Oct 2024

The junior doctors called off their 'total cease work' at state-run medical colleges and hospitals around 8.30 pm on Friday but threatened to launch a hunger strike till death if their demands were not met by the West Bengal government within 24 hours.

Teen Porsche driver's blood samples swapped with woman's, police tell court

Teen Porsche driver's blood samples swapped with woman's, police tell court

Rediff.com30 May 2024

The sessions court granted the police's plea and extended till June 5 the custody of two doctors and an employee of the Sassoon General Hospital here arrested in this connection.

Ex-Army Men Seek To Maintain Vijay Stambh

Ex-Army Men Seek To Maintain Vijay Stambh

Rediff.com25 Feb 2025

The Mahars have a historical connection with this victory pillar.

Pune bus rape: Plea in court to restrain public, social media

Pune bus rape: Plea in court to restrain public, social media

Rediff.com4 Mar 2025

A 26-year-old woman, who works in the health sector, was allegedly raped by a history-sheeter, Dattatray Gade (37), inside a stationary state transport bus at Swargate terminus in the early hours of Tuesday (February 25), according to the police.

Projects halted in Pakistan as US puts aid on hold

Projects halted in Pakistan as US puts aid on hold

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

The United States has temporarily suspended foreign assistance to Pakistan for re-evaluation following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Orange alert sounded as Kerala is lashed by intense rains

Orange alert sounded as Kerala is lashed by intense rains

Rediff.com23 May 2024

Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Kerala on Thursday, leading to waterlogging in the low-lying areas of major cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Thrissur.

Nipah Death Puts Kerala On Alert

Nipah Death Puts Kerala On Alert

Rediff.com22 Jul 2024

The scare of communicable diseases seems to be gripping the country with Maharashtra reporting 28 Zika cases this year, the highest since 2021.

Phone Use on Toilet Linked To Piles

Phone Use on Toilet Linked To Piles

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

The habit, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, is putting increased strain on the rectal area, leading to painful conditions that often require medical intervention.

'Delta plus' variant may trigger 3rd wave in Maha: State health dept

'Delta plus' variant may trigger 3rd wave in Maha: State health dept

Rediff.com17 Jun 2021

The highly virulent 'Delta plus' variant of the novel coronavirus could stoke a third wave in Maharashtra, according to a presentation made at a meeting attended by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

After wolf attacks, stray dogs haunt UP's Bahraich

After wolf attacks, stray dogs haunt UP's Bahraich

Rediff.com6 Mar 2025

A pack of stray dogs in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, has killed a 12-year-old girl and injured 14 people in the past 10 days. The situation has escalated to the point where the administration is advising residents to carry sticks when venturing out in the evening and urging parents not to allow children to go outside alone. The administration is conducting awareness campaigns and a sterilization drive to control the stray dog population. Authorities have also emphasized proper waste management to prevent strays from scavenging for food.

Heatwave grips Kashmir; Srinagar's hottest July in 25 yrs, beats Delhi temp

Heatwave grips Kashmir; Srinagar's hottest July in 25 yrs, beats Delhi temp

Rediff.com4 Jul 2024

Srinagar recorded the maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest temperature in the month of July in 25 years since 1999 when the mercury had settled at 37 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

SC asks protesting Bengal docs to return to duty

SC asks protesting Bengal docs to return to duty

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud directed the protesting doctors to get back to work by 5 pm on Tuesday and assured them that there will be no adverse action if they resume duty.

'My Mother Received An I-T Notice For...'

'My Mother Received An I-T Notice For...'

Rediff.com8 Apr 2025

rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries.

Odisha detects 59 H3N2 influenza cases in Jan, Feb; steps up surveillance

Odisha detects 59 H3N2 influenza cases in Jan, Feb; steps up surveillance

Rediff.com12 Mar 2023

State health secretary of Odisha on Sunday directed all district administrations to be vigilant and step up influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections surveillance at health facility level and community level.

SC grants custody of man with cerebral palsy to US mother

SC grants custody of man with cerebral palsy to US mother

Rediff.com3 Mar 2025

The Supreme Court of India granted custody of a man suffering from cerebral palsy to his mother, a US national, after determining it was in his best interest due to his inability to make independent decisions. The court overruled a Madras High Court decision, finding the lower court's interaction with the son insufficient to assess his needs. The Supreme Court emphasized the son's limited cognitive capacity and the availability of specialized support in the US, where he had completed most of his schooling.

How Cancer Survivors Can Obtain A Health Plan

How Cancer Survivors Can Obtain A Health Plan

Rediff.com7 Sep 2023

'Try to buy a policy with a lower sum assured or one with a deductible.' 'Those whose spouses work for companies must get themselves enrolled into the employer's group health cover.' 'Some public sector banks also offer group health covers to those who open a savings account with them.'

Former Kerala health minister Shailaja rejects Magsaysay Award

Former Kerala health minister Shailaja rejects Magsaysay Award

Rediff.com4 Sep 2022

Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist leader and former Kerala health minister K K Shailaja has declined to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award as it was instituted in the name of late President of the Philippines, who was known allegedly for his brutality against the Communists.

Budget proposes social security scheme for gig workers

Budget proposes social security scheme for gig workers

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the government will arrange identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal to assist 1 crore gig workers. Presenting the Union Budget 2025-26, the finance minister also said a scheme for the socio-economic upliftment of urban workers will be implemented.