Expand reach of tele-consultation, Health minister to states

In Uttar Pradesh, the State Election Commission has made it mandatory for all political parties to seek permission for campaigning through video vans or digital video vans. Expenditure on the video vans will be added to the party's election expenses which has to be produced before the Election Commission once the elections are over. Such video vans can be used for campaigning only between 8 am to 8 pm. Additional Chief Election Officer Dr Brahmdev Ram Tiwari, in a statement, said the sanctioning authority for video or digital vans at the state level is the Chief Election Officer and at the district level the District Election Officer. Also, such video vans can not be used for campaigning for a particular candidate. Political parties can only use them for campaigning of their party's plans and policies to seek votes.

-Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said that in view of a substantial number of Active Cases across the country recuperating from COVID19 in home isolation, it is important to focus on expanding the reach of tele-consultation services for providing timely quality healthcare to the beneficiaries. Mandaviya was interacting with State Health Ministers and Principal Secretaries and Additional Chief Secretaries Health and Administrators of nine states and UTs. He urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model and ensure that more and more centre of tele-consultation is opened. The Minister said, this will enable beneficiaries to access expert advice from experts stationed at the district hubs. He added that eSanjeevani has been able to provide services to more than 2.6 crore beneficiaries where people can seek medical advice from the confines of their homes.  Mandaviya advised states and UTs to ensure that those in home isolation are efficiently monitored in line with the National Guidelines. He said, this will ensure that the vulnerable categories of active cases in home isolation get the required medical help in a timely manner.  Mandaviya stressed that vaccination remains a potent tool to fight COVID-19. He said, Vaccinated people are less prone to severity and hospitalisation as seen in India and globally. The Minister said, higher hospitalisation is being seen in unvaccinated people and hence it becomes crucial to vaccinate the unvaccinated. He also requested States to promote vaccination among 15-18 yrs age group and ensure full coverage in the districts that have shown a lower coverage of the first and second doses.

-The poll process for Assembly Elections in Punjab started on Tuesday with the issuance of the notification regarding nominations. Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju said that as per the data available on the encore software only 12 nominations were filed in the State till 6 pm on the first day of filing nominations. Manpreet Ayali of Shiromani Akali Dal and  Devinder Singh of Aam Lok Party United filed their nomination papers from Mullanpur Dakha and Darshan Singh Shivalik of SAD filed his nomination papers for Gill constituency at Ludhiana. Ayali's brother Harkinder Singh filed his nomination papers as his covering candidate while Paramjit Kaur Shivalik, wife of Darshan Singh Shivalik filed her nomination papers as covering candidate. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon filed his nomination papers at Faridkot.

-Himachal Pradesh celebrates its 52nd full statehood day on Tuesday with fanfare and enthusiasm across the state. On January 25, in the year 1971, Himachal was carved out as an 18th state and got full statehood.President Ram Nath Kovind has greeted the people of Himachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day. Referring to the state as Devbhoomi, he said that it is a prominent centre of spirituality, culture and tourism. He expressed confidence that the diligent residents of Himachal Pradesh will take the state to the pinnacle of modern development while protecting their cultural heritage. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has greeted the people of  Himachal Pradesh on their statehood day. In a tweet,  Naidu said that snow-capped mountains, bounteous rivers, misty pine forests and picturesque waterfalls make the state a kaleidoscope of nature. The Vice President extended his best wishes for the prosperity of Himachal Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Himachal Pradesh on the occasion of its statehood day. In a tweet,  Modi hoped that the state continues to grow and contribute to the country's development.

-Coal Secretary Dr. Anil Kumar Jain inaugurated an extended office of the Coal Controller’s Organization at Laxmi Nagar, in New Delhi on Tuesday which will work as a subordinate office under the Ministry of Coal. This new office will function as main Office of Coal Controller’s Organization and discharge several duties, comprising approval of Mine Plan and Mine Closure Plan, Monitoring the Compliance of Mine Closure Plans, Mine Opening, and re-opening Permission, Support to NITI AAYOG, and other concerned important duties. Several officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion.