National AYUSH Mission to continue as Centrally-sponsored Scheme

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of National AYUSH Mission as a Centrally-sponsored Scheme from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 with financial implication of nearly four thousand 607 crore rupees. Out of it, three thousand crore rupees will be as Central share and 1,607 crore rupees as State share. The Mission was launched on 15th September 2014.Addressing media in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that under the scheme, 12 thousand AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres will be set up across the country to provide services of a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices. He also informed that in addition to it, six AYUSH colleges and 12 AYUSH Post-Graduate Institutes will be set up while infrastructure of 10 Under-Graduate Institutes and 101 existing 50-bedded hospitals and 152 AYUSH Dispensaries will be upgraded. Thakur informed that the Cabinet also gave its approval for changing the nomenclature and mandate of North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) as North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR). The inclusion of Ayurveda within the mandate of the institute will be highly beneficial for the people of North Eastern region for imparting quality education and research in Ayurveda and Folk medicine.

-Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has dismissed the allegations regarding shortage and slow availability of COVID vaccines in the country. In a series of tweets, Mandaviya said, there have been several statements from some states and political representatives regarding shortage and slow availability of COVID vaccines. Such statements are not based on facts and intend to create panic among the people. The Minister said, the prevailing situation can be better understood by an analysis of the prevailing situation based on evidence and facts. This availability of vaccine has been increased to 13.50 crore doses in the month of July. Mr Mandaviya said, based on the discussion with the manufacturers, the government had informed all States and UTs on 19th June, regarding number of doses of the vaccine to be made available in month of July.The States and UTs have been advised to plan their COVID -19 Vaccination sessions based on the availability of the COVID vaccines so that people of the country do not face any problem.

-The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved implementation of special livestock sector package consisting of several activities by revising and realigning various components of Government of India’s schemes for next five years starting from 2021-22.
The step will further boost growth in livestock sector and thereby making animal husbandry more remunerative to 10 crore farmers engaged in Animal Husbandry Sector. This package envisages Central Government’s support amounting to nine thousand 800 crore rupees over duration of five years for leveraging total investment of 54 thousand 618 crore rupees for five years. As per this all the schemes of the Department, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying will be merged into three broad categories as Development Programmes. It includes Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), National Livestock Mission (NLM) and Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey as sub-schemes and  Livestock Health and Disease Control.

-Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that his government has adopted zero tolerance policy against drugs menace. Replying to a question in assembly on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that efforts are on amongst all North Eastern states to fight against the menace unitedly. Sarma said that Home Minister Amit Shah instructed him to take stern measures against drugs, cow smuggling and human trafficking. The Chief Minister informed the house that 1,897 persons involved in drugs peddling have been arrested by the Assam police during the last 2 months. He said that during this period, 28 kilogram of heroine and 41 kilogram of opium among others have been seized. Mr. Sarma said that the public burning of seized drugs will be held on 17th and 18th of this month at 4 places in the state.

-The Union Government has capped trade margin up to 70 per cent on price to distributor level on five medical devices. These devices are Pulse Oximeter, Blood Pressure Monitoring Machine, Nebulizer, Digital Thermometer and Glucometer. Keeping in view the evolving COVID pandemic and the continuing demand of the medical devices, Chemical and Fertiliser Ministry has decided to regulate their prices for affordable health care and COVID management. The revised prices will come into effect from 20th of July this year. The Ministry said, every retailer, dealer, hospital and institution shall display price lists of these medical devices as furnished by the manufacturer on a conspicuous part of the business premises.