Public Health / Sanitation

Staff scarcity hits scrutiny

Friday, 23 July 2010 07:09 administrator

Deccan Chronicle 23.07.2010

Staff scarcity hits scrutiny

July 23rd, 2010

DC Correspondent

Tags: colour additives, food adulteration, GHMC

July 22: According to Mr M. Surender, senior inspector of food with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, adulterated food is found in all kinds of eateries. If coloured chicken preparations have been recovered from smaller restaurants, a well-known hotel at RTC Crossroads was found using artificial colour in their biryani, which is supposed to contain only natural colo-urs like kesar or saffron.

“Actually, colour adulteration is more often due to ignorance than intentional. In the last three years, we have booked about 25 cases against eatery owners from the city and court proceedings are on. Every year around 500 samples are collected from small and big hotels, restaurants, bandis, bakeries, confectionaries and sweet shops all over the city. The banned colours usually used in these eateries are Rodamine B, Sudan 1 and 3 and Metalyn Yellow,” says Mr Surender.

Records of Institute of Preventive Medicine show that in Andhra Pradesh 220 courts deal with PFA cases and 2,176 cases were awaiting trial in 2009. Twenty-six cases under PFA ended in conviction and 237 cases in acquittal last year. Violators can face a jail term of six months to three years and a fine of up to Rs 2,000.

Given the lack of awareness among consumers and instances of food adulteration taking place all over the city, booking just 25 cases in three years seems to undermine the gravity of the situation.

A GHMC official says there are “administrative problems” associated with collection of samples. “In Mumbai, there are around 50 food inspectors on the lookout for adulterated food whereas for the entire Hyderabad area there are just five GHMC food inspectors. More posts need to be sanctioned for the purpose. Each inspector has to submit at least eight cases per month. It becomes quite difficult with inadequate staff support,” he points out.

Even the State Food Laboratory has just 25 scientists for testing food and beverage samples from the entire state. “Within 40 days, we have got to submit a report of the 1,000 samples received every month. Naturally, it would be better to have more analysts in the team,” Ms Sailaja Devi, chief public analyst at the State Food Laboratory, Institute of Preventive Medicine, AP.

It remains to be seen if the new Food Safety and Standards Act will make any difference or whether this is just a case of new wine in old bottle.

Mosquitoes found at Games Village, action taken against officials

Friday, 23 July 2010 06:37 administrator

The Hindu 23.07.2010

Mosquitoes found at Games Village, action taken against officials

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has announced that it had initiated prosecution proceedings against several officials working in the Commonwealth Games Village and other sports venues after it detected mosquito breeding in the premises.

According to the MCD Medical Health Officer Dr. N. K. Yadav, breeding was detected in various government offices and construction projects and prosecution action has been taken against Executive Engineer of Yamuna Sports Complex and Safety Manager and In-charge Supervisor of Games Village among others. Action has also been taken against Superintending Engineer of Public Works Department at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Chief Medical Officer of CGHS dispensary at Laxmi Nagar, Maintenance Officer of R. K. Khanna Stadium, an Assistant Engineer in IIT campus, a lecturer in Gargi College Staff Quarters, Assistant Manager in BSES office Katwaria Sarai, Manager of DTC Bus Depot at Shadipur and Estate Officer in ISBT Anand Vihar, the MCD said.

Dr. N. K. Yadav said: “In view of increase in aedes mosquito breeding and reports of dengue cases, the MCD has intensified vector surveillance especially keeping the Games in view. A total of 3,500 domestic breeding checkers have been engaged from April this year instead of June as practised in previous years. This year, 1,27,92,401 visits have been made for domestic breeding checking and breeding was detected in 24,853 premises. 29,750 legal notices have been issued and 2,588 prosecutions done.”

As per the civic body, 12 rapid response teams have been established in all 12 zones of MCD to check dengue outbreak. MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said: “In addition, surveillance posts have been established in all 21 Games construction sites. Also, preventive action and health education activities involving residents welfare associations, school teachers, nodal officers from government offices and local leaders were started since February and March. “

Last Updated on Friday, 23 July 2010 06:38

Govt to probe Seven Hills for broken promises

Wednesday, 21 July 2010 11:12 administrator

Indian Express 21.07.2010

Govt to probe Seven Hills for broken promises

Express News Service Tags : seven hills hospital case, mumbai Posted: Wed Jul 21 2010, 00:45 hrs

Mumbai:

Seven Hills Hospital

The new, multiple-specialty Seven Hills Hospital will be probed by the government for the alleged violation of conditions that the BMC had set when it leased out the land, in Andheri.

The announcement came just 16 days after the hospital’s inauguration by President Pratibha Patil. “The government will conduct an inquiry,” Minister of State for Urban Development Bhaskar Jadhav said in the Assembly Tuesday, after the issue had been raised by Vivek Patil (Peasants and Workers Party) and others. Jadhav said the secretary of his department would conduct the probe.

The BMC has been complaining that the Rs 1,100-crore hospital has not reserved beds for the weaker sections. The hospital has at present 300 of 1,500 planned beds; the BMC wants 20 per cent beds across departments and the ICU reserved, and has threatened to withdraw the lease otherwise. Vivek Patil and other legislators, too, raised the 20 per cent demand.

Leaders also want 80 per cent jobs in the hospital, with a workforce that will include 3,000 nurses, reserved for locals. Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena-BJP that controls the BMC, Jadhav said the “flawed” agreement does not have such a provision. Also, the BMC and the management have already signed the final agreement but not the memorandum of understanding, which should have been signed first, he said.

The leaders who raised the issue wanted the government to issue a notice and take the land into possession, but Jadhav said this would be difficult in practical terms. He promised the government would ensure the conditions set down are adhered to and locals get priority in jobs.

Vivek Patil asked whether the hospital would have to reserve 80 per cent jobs for locals. Jadhav said the government from time to time had adopted resolutions that at least 50 per cent locals need to be given priority in the supervisory grade and 80 per cent in other categories; the hospital would have to be responsible for adhering to this. The hospital would also have to reserve 20 per cent of beds across departments for patients referred by the BMC, he said.

Hospital authorities declined to comment. Sources in the hospital said they were committed to reserving 20 per cent beds but were not keen on the “new” clauses introduced while drawing up the MoU. They said the demands, old and new, are under discussion with the BMC.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 11:14

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