Author: colorsnews.in

Gandhinagar, March 7 (IANS) The number of medicines and surgical items provided free of cost in government hospitals across Gujarat has doubled in the last two years, increasing from 717 to 1,479 following the addition of 150 new drugs to the state’s Essential Drugs List (EDL).

Reacting to the revision on Saturday, state BJP chief spokesperson Dr Anil Patel said the expansion of the list by the state Health Department has significantly increased the range of medicines available free of cost to patients at government healthcare facilities across the state.

“The increase reflects the state government’s effort to expand access to treatment for patients in both rural and urban areas. Two years ago, around 717 medicines were being provided free of cost as essential drugs in Gujarat. With the addition of 150 new medicines, the number has now doubled to 1,479,” he said.

He said the medicines and surgical items included in the EDL will be available free of cost to patients at primary health centres, civil hospitals and hospitals attached to government medical colleges across the state.

Dr Patel said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that patients from economically weaker sections are able to access treatment without financial strain.

“The government led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is working with the resolve to provide quality treatment at the doorstep to villagers, the poor, farmers and the middle class,” he said.

He added that the expansion of the list includes medicines for the treatment of serious and long-term illnesses.

“By including medicines for major and long-term diseases such as heart ailments, cancer, neurological disorders and mental illnesses in the EDL, the government has helped reduce the financial burden on middle-class and poor families,” he said.

Dr Patel also said the addition of more anti-infective medicines, respiratory drugs and medical devices reflects the government’s focus on strengthening treatment facilities in public hospitals.

“The state government is committed to providing modern and the best possible treatment to patients,” he said.

He further noted that the health department reviews the drugs formulary every year to keep it updated and aligned with evolving medical requirements.

“The practice of reviewing the drugs formulary annually and updating it in accordance with the times is commendable,” he said.

–IANS

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Dehradun, March 7 (IANS) Marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of India’s judicial and law enforcement system, Uttarakhand has secured the first position in the national implementation of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0.

According to data available up to January 2026, the achievement reflects the state’s strong push towards a technology-driven justice system and aligns with the vision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to modernise the country’s criminal justice infrastructure.

As per the latest CCTNS/ICJS Progress Dashboard released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttarakhand has ranked first at the national level with an impressive score of 93.46.

The top five states in the national ranking include Uttarakhand with 93.46, followed closely by Haryana with 93.41, Assam with 93.16, Sikkim with 91.82, and Madhya Pradesh with 90.55.

Officials said the state’s performance highlights the effectiveness of coordinated administrative efforts and the adoption of advanced digital systems within the criminal justice framework.

Uttarakhand’s success has also been attributed to the leadership and close monitoring by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The state government adopted a mission-mode approach to implement the newly-introduced criminal laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

To ensure smooth implementation of these laws on the ground, the Chief Minister personally reviewed the progress through regular meetings with senior government officials as well as district-level field officers. These continuous reviews helped address technical challenges in time and enabled the police and other departments to adapt effectively to the new legal framework.

Officials said that one of the key factors behind the state’s success is the ‘One Data, One Entry’ mechanism introduced under ICJS 2.0. This system ensures seamless data sharing among various components of the criminal justice system, including Police (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-Prisons, e-Prosecution, and e-Forensics.

Under this integrated system, once data is entered into the platform, it becomes instantly accessible to all relevant departments. This has significantly reduced paperwork, improved coordination among agencies, and accelerated the process of case investigation and disposal.

In addition, measures have been taken to strengthen transparency and evidence management. Videography of crime scenes and the secure storage of digital evidence have been made mandatory through the use of the ‘e-Sakshya’ application.

The state government has also focussed on extensive capacity building within the police force. More than 23,000 police personnel in Uttarakhand have undergone intensive training on the provisions and procedures of the new criminal laws.

Technological advancements have also been prioritised, including facilities for virtual court hearings through the ‘Nyaya Shruti’ system and the deployment of forensic mobile vans to strengthen on-site investigations.

Confirming the state’s top ranking, Uttarakhand Police spokesperson and Inspector General of Police (Crime and Law & Order) Sunil Kumar Meena said the state has set a benchmark not only in implementing technological infrastructure but also in ensuring real-time data entry and coordination among departments.

Officials also noted that Amit Shah has appreciated Uttarakhand’s performance, particularly the efficiency of the ‘One Data, One Entry’ system, during high-level review meetings.

With these coordinated efforts and technological advancements, Uttarakhand has emerged as a model for ‘smart policing’ and an example of effective implementation of modern criminal justice reforms in the country.

–IANS

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Kolkata, March 7 (IANS) A day before the arrival of the full-bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to Kolkata on Sunday night, posters mocking Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar flooded the ward of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) which houses the residence of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.

The full bench of the ECI, led by Kumar, will arrive in Kolkata with a packed schedule for th e next two days, reviewing the ongoing judicial adjudication of the voters’ documents identified under the “logical discrepancy” category as well as the preparedness for the crucial Assembly elections in the state scheduled later this year.

The Trinamool Congress unit, which had also admitted the credit for that, Kumar is seen lying on the ground struggling to survive and saying, “I made a mistake. Please forgive me, Madam”.

A woman’s fist is seen blowing Kumar’s jaw. The face of the woman whose hands are shown in the cartoon is not visible. The word “tigress” is written on the fist. The picture also gives a faint impression of the saree with a white base and a light-blue border, considered the signature attire of the Chief Minister.

The entire poster, presented in the form of a cartoon, also has the picture of a judge sitting at his bench.

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had described the poster-cartoon as a reflection of “cheap taste and a highly derogatory expression”.

BJP councilor in KMC, Sajal Ghosh, said that since the ECI acts as an important institution in the system of the Indian democracy, such an insult towards the person heading that institution is unpardonable.

“This is also a reflection of Trinamool Congress’ anxiety over the Special Intensive Revision exercise, which had already resulted in the deletion of names of lakhs of bogus voters,” he added.

Political observers feel that Trinamool Congress had deliberately pasted these posters just before the visit of the full bench of the Commission, and hence the posters have been displayed at those public places through which a large number of people commute on a daily basis.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) Air travel between India and the Gulf region is gradually resuming amid disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, with airlines including Air India and IndiGo announcing special and scheduled flights on Saturday to bring back stranded passengers.

Flight operations between India and several Middle Eastern destinations had been severely affected after multiple countries in West Asia temporarily closed their airspace due to the conflict between Iran and Israel. The closures triggered widespread cancellations and left thousands of travellers stranded across the Gulf region.

With some airspaces gradually reopening, airports in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have partially resumed operations, allowing airlines to restart a limited number of flights aimed primarily at evacuating stranded passengers and maintaining essential connectivity.

In a statement posted on X, Air India said: “Air India and Air India Express continue to operate scheduled flights to/from Jeddah and Muscat assessed safe for operations. Additional non-scheduled flights have been planned to operate to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah on 7 March, to fly the stranded passengers back to India. Air India’s services to Europe & North America are operating normally through safe alternative routings.”

According to the airline, Air India Express and Air India together will operate around 50 services on March 7 connecting India with six Gulf cities — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Jeddah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

These services include both regular scheduled flights and additional non-scheduled flights arranged after airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman reopened, enabling airlines to partially resume operations.

The flights will connect several major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram with destinations across the Gulf.

Air India said the additional services have been introduced specifically to assist passengers stranded in the region during the crisis. The airline added that the special flights are being operated after obtaining the necessary clearances from Indian authorities and aviation regulators in the Gulf region.

IndiGo has also announced a limited restart of Middle East flights, operating services to five destinations in the region on Saturday.

The airline said it understands that many travellers are still trying to reach their destinations and has planned a limited schedule while monitoring the evolving situation.

However, the disruption remains severe. IndiGo has cancelled 144 international flights scheduled for March 7 due to airspace restrictions across the region.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) As the second half of the Budget Session of Parliament resumes on Monday, the Lok Sabha is set to take up a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, with BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal saying the motion against the Speaker would ultimately fail, asserting that it lacks logical grounds and adequate support in the House.

Speaking to IANS on Saturday, Khandelwal said, “According to the provisions of Parliament, such a proposal will be brought to the House with the permission of the presiding officer and will then be discussed. However, one thing is certain: This proposal will fail badly, and the Indian National Congress and other Opposition parties will realise their true position, because the proposal is baseless and lacks logical grounds.”

Reacting to the development, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said such proposals were part of parliamentary democracy but insisted that disorder in the House cannot be tolerated.

“The question is that anarchy cannot be tolerated. As the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, it is Om Birla’s moral responsibility to uphold the dignity of Parliament. Those who are dissatisfied are free to bring such proposals, but given the numbers, it is clear that the proposal will be completely rejected,” Prasad said.

Meanwhile, Independent MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav, emphasised the importance of the Speaker’s office in the parliamentary system and expressed hope that the institution would continue to function with dignity.

“In the parliamentary system, the post of Speaker is very important and democratic… Today, our Speaker is good, and I wish that his representation remains that of the entire 145 crore people of India, and may such a necessity never arise,” he said.

The no-confidence motion has been moved by three Congress lawmakers — Md Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh and Mallu Ravi. The resolution accuses the Speaker of acting in a partisan manner and failing to maintain the impartiality required for the post.

The motion states: “That this House, having taken into consideration the conduct of the Speaker of the House as regards disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders to speak, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs, feels he has ceased to maintain an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House; that in his partisan attitude he disregards the rights of Members of the House and makes pronouncements and gives rulings calculated to affect and undermine such rights; that he openly espouses the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters.”

The debate on the motion is expected to be a key highlight as the Lok Sabha resumes proceedings in the second half of the Budget Session.

–IANS

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