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Gurugram, Feb 26 (IANS) Gurugram BJP election in-charge Subhash Barala released the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ for the upcoming municipal elections in Gurugram on Wednesday.

Barala claimed that this manifesto is for the development of Gurugram and a better future for Gurugram.

“BJP is committed to making the lives of the people of the Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) simple and easy, and serving the public is the priority of BJP. According to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we all together will put all our strength into developing Gurugram and the state,” he said.

He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the BJP government is moving forward with the resolution to develop Haryana.

“Earlier, we have also passed a resolution to make Gurugram clean and pothole-free,” he said.

During the release of the Sankalp Patra, District President Kamal Yadav, Mayor Candidate Rajrani Malhotra, MLA Mukesh Sharma, State Secretary Gargi Kakkar, National Vice President of Minority Front Zakir Hussain and other leaders were also present during the event.

Speaking about the manifesto made for the MCG area, Barala said that road repair and maintenance work will be done before the monsoon season of 2025.

“Special attention will be given to main roads like AIT Chowk and Southern Refine Road (SPR) so that people get immediate relief. A dedicated city development fund will be set up through a public-private partnership model and CSR contribution for projects like multi-level parking, community centre and road repair. Smart signals and integrated traffic management system (ITMS) will be implemented to address the traffic problems of Gurugram,” he claimed.

He added that 80 new garbage collection vehicles will be pressed in the corporation area, there will be more employees for daily garbage collection and replacing congested grounds with modern and eco-friendly garbage processing facilities will improve waste management.

He also promised that the BJP would ensure that the waste is disposed of promptly at the Bandhwari landfill site, and heavy fines will be imposed in case of delay.

“Developing infrastructure to prevent water logging during the rainy season will be a priority. Clean water will be provided to the citizens by installing public drinking water filters,” he promised.

He also claimed that the BJP aims to make the city free from street animals and provide electricity and water supply 24 hours a day.

He said that work will be done in collaboration with the state government to expedite the completion and operation of the tar plant from waste in Gurugram.

“By starting the ‘Green Mobility Campaign’ for a clean environment of the city, we will work to promote EV charging stations, advanced e-mobility solutions and e-bike/e-cycle rental services,” he claimed.

He also promised that to make the city sparkling, beautification projects will be started in all the wards including park maintenance, roadside plantation and decorative painting to enhance the beautification of the area.

He said that the unapproved colonies would be legalised. “To provide better transport facilities to the people, we will develop walking and trekking in the entire city on the lines of Chandigarh. We will ensure streetlights are installed on every rind of the city,” he said.

He said that the BJP government aims to provide maximum facilities to women. “For this, keeping in mind the safety of women, we will start a special pink garbage bag,” he said.

“Tax on high-rise buildings will also be abolished so that the financial burden of the people can be reduced. The person who has been occupying land for 20 years will be given ownership rights. The houses which are in the name of women will be given exemption in house tax. The house tax of the villages within the corporation area will be simplified. Separate spaces for yoga will be ensured in the parks,” he said.

He added that the ruling BJP government has resolved to provide special financial assistance for small businessmen and street vendors in the corporation area.

“State-of-the-art auditory and MS modern libraries will also be developed in the cities. Vehicles for crematoriums, multi-level parking, and new centres for the disposal of wet and dry garbage will be established. Sewerage and drinking water connections will be provided free of cost,” he said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The area sown under the ongoing Kharif season has increased to 597.86 lakh hectares so far this year, compared with 560.59 lakh hectares in the same period last year, data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Monday showed.

The increase in sown area augurs well for higher production which in turn would increase the incomes of farmers and also help to keep food inflation in check.

The official figures show that the area under rice is 123.68 lakh hectares as on July 11 this year as compared to 111..85 lakh hectares during the same period last year.

The area under pulses such as Urad and Moog has been reported at 67.09 lakh hectares as compared to 53.39 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This increase of around 14 lakh hectares is a positive development as an increase in the production of pulses plays a key role in controlling inflation.

The area covered under coarse cereals or millets such as jowar, bajra and ragi has shot up to 116.3 lakh hectares during the current season so far, from 99.78 lakh hectares in the same period of the previous year.

The sown area has gone up in the current season as better monsoon rains have facilitated the sowing in unirrigated areas of the country which account for close to 50 per cent of the country’s farmland.

The area under sugarcane has also increased to 55.16 lakh hectares from 54.88 lakh hectares in the same period of the previous year.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on May 28 this year, approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 kharif crops for marketing season 2025-26 to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their crops and incentivise production.

The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for nigerseed (Rs.820 per quintal) followed by ragi (Rs.596 per quintal), cotton (Rs.589 per quintal) and sesamum (Rs.579 per quintal).

–IANS

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Sabarkantha, March 4 (IANS) Approximately 4,89,722 schoolchildren underwent health screening over the past year under the government’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district.

Twenty-nine medical teams visited various educational institutions, including primary and secondary schools, as well as Anganwadi centres, to ensure early detection and treatment of diseases among children, officials shared on Tuesday.

During these screenings, 183 children were diagnosed with heart disease, out of which 50 underwent surgery free of cost under government schemes, while the remaining are receiving treatment based on specialist recommendations.

Additionally, 48 children with kidney diseases, 34 with cancer, and 15 with congenital spinal disorders were identified and referred to designated hospitals for further medical attention.

Among the identified cases, 39 children were found with cleft lip and palate defects. So far, 11 have successfully undergone corrective surgery, while the rest will receive treatment at an appropriate age. Furthermore, 40 children with clubfoot were diagnosed, with 37 already receiving successful treatment through plastering and surgery, allowing them to live normal lives.

The remaining three children are still undergoing medical care.

Beyond physical health screenings, the RBSK teams played a crucial role in raising awareness about adolescent health issues, including menstrual hygiene, weekly iron-folic acid supplementation, mental health, handwashing techniques, and addiction-free living. These awareness programmes were conducted across schools to promote overall well-being.

The teams also visited delivery points at hospitals to provide immediate health screenings for newborns, ensuring early detection of congenital diseases and necessary interventions. Malnutrition remains a significant public health concern in Gujarat, affecting a substantial number of children under the age of five.

According to data presented in the Gujarat Assembly, over 5.70 lakh children in the state are malnourished, with approximately 4.38 lakh categorised as underweight and 1.31 lakh as severely underweight.

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicates that the prevalence of stunting in Gujarat has increased slightly from 38.5 per cent to 39 per cent, severe wasting from 9.5 per cent to 10.6 per cent, and underweight from 39.3 per cent to 39.7 per cent. Additionally, the NITI Aayog’s data reveals that nearly 40 per cent of children under five in Gujarat are underweight, highlighting the state’s ongoing struggle with malnutrition. Despite these challenges, recent data suggests some improvements.

The percentage of stunted children decreased from 53.6 per cent in October 2022 to 40.8 per cent in October 2024, indicating a reduction of 12.8 percentage points over two years. However, Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases have risen, with 9,606 cases reported in 2020-21, 13,048 in 2021-22, and 18,978 in 2022-23.

–IANS

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