Align with Centre's SOP for air travellers, Health ministry to Maha

A total of 52,479 kilometer length of National Highways have been constructed during the last five years. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Nitin Gadkari said, over 58,000 kilometers length of National Highway projects have been awarded during the last five years. Replying to another query on Bhartmala Project, the Minister said, a length of 6 thousand 567 kilometers has been completed. He said, out of 34,800 kilometers approved under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, projects comprising length of 19 thousand 265 kilometer have been awarded. He said, detailed project reports for the remaining length have been initiated.

- As the world observes World Aids day on Wednesday, December 1, , Meghalaya Aids Control Society organized a bike and vintage car rally in Shillong city to spread awareness against the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS patients. Speaking on the occasion, the project director of MACS Dr R Allya informed that there are 5000 registered HIV patients and more than 6000 HIV patients who are yet to come forward. On the occasion of World Aids Day, the District Legal Services Authority, East Khasi Hills District organized an awareness programme at Smit market. As part of the programme, a short skit was also presented by the members of the Manbha Foundation. The day was also observed in other districts including West Jaintia Hills District with the theme “End Inequalities End AIDS”.  in Manipur, also World AIDS Day 2021 on the theme "End Inequalities, END AIDS' was observed at 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal. The state-level observation was attended by Manipur Governor La. Ganesan, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, and ministers. Speaking at the function, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that many complaints have been received that people living with HIV/AIDS are not getting Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) medicines in time. To avoid such inconvenience, the State government will commence doorstep delivery of ART medicines for people living with HIV/AIDS from this month.Biren said that the HIV prevalence rate of Manipur has decreased significantly now compared to the previous years. However, the prevalence rate is higher than the national average rate. Therefore all the stakeholders, especially NGOs working in this sector need to work hard for an HIV/AIDS-free state.

-The ‘President's Colour Award’ ceremony was organized by Himachal Pradesh Police at the historic Ridge Ground in Shimla on Wednesday. On this occasion, Governor honoured the State Police with the ‘President's Colour Award’ which was received by the Director-General of Police Sanjay Kundu. While extending greetings and expressing happiness on receiving the 'President’s Colour' by Himachal Pradesh Police, the Governor said that it was the 8th State Police of India which has got this distinction. He said 'President Colour' is a special achievement and this proves the state police ranks high in the service of humanity along with performance, professionalism, integrity, protection of human rights and other parameters”. Director-General of Police Sanjay Kundu said the ‘President's Color’ is not only an award but also a responsibility, which the Himachal Pradesh Police has to fulfill with more integrity, efficiency, and discipline. On the occasion, formation of ‘Hollow Square’ by the Police Band, Pilling of drums and consecration of the colour was the main attraction. 

-Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written a letter to the Maharashtra Government regarding the divergence in COVID protocol to be followed for air travellers. Maharashtra had issued a notification saying that RT-PCR testing will be mandatory for all international travellers irrespective of the country of origin and also for those planning to undertake connecting flights. This is in deviance with the Centre’s SOPs which state that only those passengers, arriving from ‘at risk’ countries will be tested. The Centre had also said that just a subsection of passengers arriving from other locations will be tested randomly and they will be allowed to self-monitor their health for 14 days after arrival.  Bhushan has advised Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Dr. Pradeep Vyas to align the orders with Centre’s SOPs so that uniform implementation of the guidelines may be ensured across all States/UTs. Maharashtra Government had also made a negative RT-PCR report mandatory for domestic passengers travelling from other states. This is in contrast to protocol that fully vaccinated citizens must be allowed to travel without being tested.

-In Assam, the alleged  main accused in the lynching of a student leader at Jorhat district  was killed in a road accident on Wednesday night. The alleged main culprit Niraj Das died while in a bid to escape police custody. Police said that he jumped out of the police vehicle in which he was being taken in a search operation and was hit by another police vehicle while attempting to flee. 3 police personnel were also injured in the incident. 13 people were arrested in connection with the lynching of the All Assam Students' Union member Animesh Bhuyan on Monday at Jorhat . Two youths were injured in the incident. 7 of the accused were sent to police custody while 5 are in judicial custody.