NHRC notice to health ministry over HIV drug shortage

New Delhi: The NHRC has issued a notice to the health ministry following a report that HIV patients were suffering due to shortage of medicines at government centres, a statement said Thursday. Taking suo motu cognizance of the report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the secretary of the health ministry, calling for a government response within two weeks. The commission has also asked the ministry secretary to submit a separate report on the measures proposed for preventing such shortages in the future. “As per media reports, treatment of HIV patients across India has taken a hit, especially in Delhi and Mumbai, due to severe stock-outs of life-saving medicines at government-owned centres. Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Manipur are the worst hit,” the NHRC said in a statement. “The report raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of HIV patients,” it added. According to the commission, treatment and control of HIV, including dispensing drugs and testing, is handled by the government-run public health programme through its centres. (IANS)

Maoist with bounty on head killed

Bhubaneswar: A Maoist leader with Rs.4 lakh bounty on his head was killed in a gun battle with police in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, an official said Thursday. The exchange of fire took place Wednesday in a forested area near Madkapadar village after the rebels opened fire at police engaged in anti-Maoist operations, Inspector General of Police (south-western range) Yashwant Jethwa told IANS. The body of Erra Madkami alias Sundhi Dalai, a local area committee member of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was found during a search at the site after the gunfight ended, he said. He was one of the most wanted Maoists and was carrying a reward of Rs.4 lakh on his head, Jethwa said.  Police also recovered one sten gun, a rifle, some ammunition, kit bags and Maoist literature at the site. Maoists are active in more than half of Odisha’s 30 districts. The district of Malkangiri, over 600 km from here, in considered one of their strongholds. (IANS)

INS expresses objection to Telangana CM’s media remark

New Delhi: In the wake of reported comments made by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao with regard to the media, the Indian Newspaper Society on Thursday said it would resist any efforts made to intimidate or harass its member publications. “Any persons with grievance against a publication has legal remedies available for redress. But acts of intimidation and threats of the kind reportedly issue by Rao have no place in a democratic society, especially when they emanate from a person holding a high position. “The Society would resist with all the resources at its command any efforts to intimidate or harass member publications,” its said in a statement issued today. INS said it has noted with “alarm” the statements about media made reportedly by Rao. During a function in Telangana’s Warangal on September 9, Rao had reportedly said, “If anybody tries to denigrate or hurt the self-respect of Telangana, Telangana Assembly, Telangana culture… we will break their necks. Be careful. Beware or else we will bury you 10 km (under the earth).” The statement from the Telangana Chief Minister came after the Association of Telangana Multiple System Operators (cable TV operators) blocked the transmission of TV channels ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV9 since June 16, alleging that they had aired programmes “denigrating the Telangana dialect, sentiment and hurting the feelings” of the people of the state. (PTI)

SC questions lack of transparency in appointment of CVC, VCs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday rapped the Centre for lack of transparency in the selection process of Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners, following which government gave the assurance that no final decision will be taken without its nod. Raising questions on lack of transparency in the selection process of CVC and VCs, the court said this promotes “favouritism and nepotism” and asked why only bureaucrats are picked for the posts and not common people. “Transparency should be the hall mark of such selection procedure and existing system is being criticised because of lack of transparency,” a bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha said, adding, “Every system which confines to an in-house procedure for selection is criticised by people for lack of transparency”. The bench, also comprising justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman, said, “Pool of talent is there in the country and people want transparency. Why should you adopt a procedure that deprives sunlight to reach people who are talented but not considered.” “Lack of transparency promotes nepotism and favouritism and many deserving people don’t get a chance of being considered,” the bench said. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted that application cannot be invited from people for the post as many people prefer to be considered by the Centre for the post rather then apply for it. He said that selection process would take at least one month time to complete and assured the court that “no final decision would be taken on appointment during the pendency of the case in the apex court”. (PTI)

Centre planning dedicated university on Ganga rejuvenation

New Delhi: To give an impetus to the Ganga rejuvenation programme, the Ministry of Water Resources is considering setting up a dedicated university for the purpose. “I do not have a definite answer now. Many things we are thinking about and it is one of them,” Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti told reporters on the sidelines of an international conference on ‘Natural Treatment System for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in India: Results from Saaf’. The NDA Government has accorded top priority to cleaning Ganga and the Centre had allocated Rs 2,037 crore for an integrated programme for the conservation of river Ganga named ‘Namami Gange’ in the Union Budget. A committee comprising secretaries of various ministries has also been constituted to rejuvenate Ganga river. Bharti also expressed concern over arsenic contamination in water in districts situated in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and in parts of Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)