17 pc tea garden workers in Assam have tuberculosis
Guwahati: About 17 per cent of tea labourers in Assam were suffering from tuberculosis following which the state government is planning to initiate DOTS centres across all gardens. Replying to a query by AGP MLA Keshab Mahanta during Zero Hour, Health and Family Welfare Minister Nazrul Islam said the government was preparing itself to cure the 17 per cent people of tea gardens through various measures. “In every garden, we are planning to set up a DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) centre,” Islam said. One of the main reasons for rise in TB in the tea gardens was non-completion of the full course of medicine by the patients, he added.The also minister said the death rate had come down to 4 per cent in 2014 from 11 per cent earlier due to various steps initiated by the government. (PTI)
HIV/AIDS-affected widows gets ex-gratia from Assam govt
GUWAHATI:Over 250 women whose husbands had died of HIV/AIDS have been provided an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each since 2012 by the Assam government.Under Assam Chief Minister’s special package of “One time financial assistance to widows whose husbands died due to HIV/AIDS,” the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) has released an ex gratia of Rs one lakh each to 50 HIV-infected/affected widows of the state during the financial year of 2014-15.Till date, an amount of Rs 2072000 has been spent under this scheme.During 2012-13, the scheme covered 155 beneficiaries and in 2013-14, 67 beneficiaries were benefited under this scheme.(UNI)
Unidentified gunmen fire upon NSCN- KK officer in Dimapur
Kohima:Unidentified gunmen fired upon one captain Hukhei, ‘town command’ of GPRN/NSCN (Khole-Kitovi group) near Airport junction, in the 3rd Mile area of Dimapur yesterday. Official reports said Hukhei was travelling in a car and proceeding towards Chumukedima to attend the Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) meeting, when unknown miscreants fired upon his car. The occupant escaped unhurt. However, the wind shield of the car was totally damaged, according to the reports. The reason of the attack is still not clear. But it was speculated that it could be something to do with factional rivalry among the NSCN factions. (UNI)
Four leopards die in zoo
Agartala: Four common leopards have died in Tripura’s Sepahijala wildlife zoo and sanctuary since Monday due to Felina babesiosis, a tick-borne malaria-like illness, an official said here on Friday.”All the four common leopards died in the zoo. We have held an emergency meeting with K.K. Sharma (an official at the College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati) and taken all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of other animals,” said zoo director Krishna Gopal Roy.”We have tested the blood samples of the dead leopards in two government-run laboratories in Agartala and confirmed that the animals died due to Felina babesiosis,” Roy said.The official, however, said that all the 13 endangered Clouded Leopard were healthy and were being looked after very carefully. (IANS)
