Proper disposal of used masks important: experts
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:45
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The Times of India 11.08.2009 Proper disposal of used masks important: expertsChitra Nair, TNN 11 August 2009, 12:54am IST PUNE: In the absence of a proper disposal system for used masks in the city, which is a cause of concern since used masks can spread the H1N1 virus, medical practitioners and experts across the city have advocated the use of cloth masks or handkerchiefs which can be washed and used again. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to put to use its incinerator to dispose of the masks. "The disposable masks will be collected from hospitals along with with the bio-medical waste and will be disposed of in the incinerator. As for masks that are thrown on the roads, we have asked the ward medical officers to make sure that such masks are collected and disposed off properly," said Suresh Jagtap, head of the solid waste management department of the PMC. He also requested people not to leave used masks around carelessly. Speaking to TOI, Dilip Sarda, president of the Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Pune branch, said that careless disposal of masks would only result in the faster spread of the H1N1 infection. "The virus is alive for almost eight hours after it leaves the human body, so the chance of the virus spreading from these used masks left around is high. That apart, there are now some people who are selling used masks at traffic signals. This is extremely dangerous," he said. He said that people using disposable masks should throw them in trash bins after wrapping them. Molecular biologist Nikhil Phadke is of the opinion that since the virus can stay alive for almost two to eight hours, it is essential for people not to come in contact with the used masks. "The virus can spread to unaffected places this way. The mask needs to be disposed of in the trash. For example, a ragpicker coming in contact with a used mask would unknowingly spread it to a number of other people," said Phadke. He added that equal care needs to be taken about the disposal of other objects that have come in contact with a patient, such as tissues, napkins and paper towels. The secretary of the Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchyat (KKPKP), Laxmi Narayan, says that the organisation is aware of the health risk that these used masks pose for waste-pickers. "While we have been telling them to take particular care, we have been able to inform only those who are involved in home-based collection of waste. It is difficult to get the message out to scavengers. We are very concerned because the H1N1 flu would spread quickly among this particular population," she added.
PM for 'new deal' for urban street vendors
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:04
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Deccan Herald 11.08.2009 | PM for 'new deal' for urban street vendors | | New Delhi, Aug 10, PTI: |
Seeking to give urban street vendors a ''new deal'', Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday asked state governments to take steps like devising norms for reserving space for them to earn their livelihood without any harassment. | | | | In a letter to Chief Ministers, he asked them to take personal interest in implementing the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors 2009, which aims at ensuring that they are given due recognition at national, state and local levels.
The policy was aimed at enabling urban street vendors to pursue economic activity without harassment and earmark locations where such activity was to be carried out, he said.
The revised policy underscored the need for a legislative framework to enable them carry out an honest living without harassment from any quarter, he said, adding that a model bill has been drafted to protect livelihood of street vendors and regulate street vending.
The revised policy and model bill have already been forwarded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to the states and union territories, Singh said in the letter.
The Prime Minister hoped that the states would take steps to "accord a new deal to the urban street vendors as a group who need space and facilities for their legitimate activities".
Seeking their "personal intervention", Singh urged the Chief Ministers to implement the revised policy and take proactive action to enact a legislation for enabling street vendors to do their trade without harassment.
The states could take steps to restructure master plan laws and city/local area plans to make them inclusive and address the requirements of space for street vending as an important urban activity, he said.
"Suitable spatial planning norms for reservation of space for street vendors in accordance with their current population and projected growth may be devised," he suggested.
States could use demarcations like 'Restriction-free Vending Zones', 'Restricted Vending Zones', 'No-vending Zones' and 'Mobile vending Areas' in every city and town, he said.
This could be done taking into account the natural propensity of street vendors to locate in certain places at certain times in response to patterns of demand for their goods and services or the formation of natural markets, traffic congestion and other factors in view, Singh said.
The States also could take steps for convergent delivery of various programmes like Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rojgar Yojana, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Prime Minister's Employment General Programme, Skill Development Initiative, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana and National Social Assistance Programme, he said. | | | | | | |
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Manmohan hawks for street food vendors
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:00
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Deccan Herald 11.08.2009 Manmohan hawks for street food vendors | | NEW DELHI, DH News Service: |
It is not quite Manmohanomics, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken steps that could well alleviate the lot of street vendors.
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 Taking up cudgels in favour of street vendors and hawkers, Singh has asked all state governments to be compassionate and “kind hearted” about people selling a variety of fare on pushcarts and at kiosks.
While the prime minister’s directives could be described as “inclusive growth,” Singh’s missive to chief ministers is clear: Allow street vendors to earn their livelihood without having to face harassment by the city/town authorities.
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In his letter to the state governments, Singh has suggested that the administration reserve exclusive space in all cities for street vendors. In other words, the prime minister prefers the state governments to recognise and legitimise street vending.
Recalling the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors 2009, which aims at ensuring that the stall owners/workers are given due recognition at the national, state and local levels, the prime minister said the state governments should ensure that the hawkers are allowed to do business.
The policy underscored the need for a legislative framework to enable them to earn an honest living from any quarter, he said. A model Bill has been drafted to protect the livelihood of street vendors and regulate street vending.
He asked the chief ministers to take steps to “restructure master planning laws and city/local area plans to make them ‘inclusive’ and address the requirements of space for street vending as an important urban activity.”
The prime minister urged the states to devise norms for “suitable spatial planning for reservation of space for street vendors in accordance with their current population and projected growth.” Singh also said the states should ensure proper demarcation of “restriction-free vending zones, restricted vending zones, no-vending zones and mobile vending areas in every city and town, taking into account the natural propensity of street vendors to locate in certain places at certain times.”
Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the Urban Development Ministry has asked state governments to grade the vendors according to the quality of food they prepared and served. It, however, wants the state government to ensure that the food served by street vendors be hygienic. |
PM wants new deal for urban street vendors
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 12:47
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The Financial Express 11.08.2009 PM wants new deal for urban street vendorsNew Delhi: The ubiquitous urban street vendor who often faced harassment at the hands of civic and police authorities can hope for a “new deal” with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself making a strong pitch on Monday for their welfare. Singh in a letter to chief ministers asked them to make “personal intervention” in taking steps like devising norms for reserving space for the vendors in cities and towns so that they could earn their livelihood without any harassment. The chief ministers should strive to implement the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors 2009 which aims at ensuring that they are give due recognition at national, state and local levels, he said. The policy was aimed at enabling urban street vendors to pursue economic activity without harassment and earmark locations where such activity was to be carried out, he said. Singh suggested that States could use demarcations like restriction-free vending vones, restricted vending zones, no-vending zones and mobile vending areas in every city and town. The revised policy underscored the need for a legislative framework to enable them carry out an honest living without harassment from any quarter, he said, adding that a model bill has been drafted to protect livelihood of street vendors and regulate street vending. The revised policy and model bill have already been forwarded by the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation to the states and union territories, Singh said. The Prime Minister hoped that the states would take steps to “accord a new deal to the urban street vendors as a group who need space and facilities for their legitimate activities”.
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