Blog - The Purbottar

17 Jun

Among Indians killed in Ladakh, a trooper who was to go home to see his baby

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Kundan Kumar Ojha, a trooper in the Bihar Regiment who was among 20 soldiers killed in a clash with Chinese troops in Ladkah’s Galwan valley, had become a father barely a fortnight ago and was planning to go home to see his baby girl in Jharkahnd. Family members said Kundan spoke to them last when his daughter Diksha was born. “He became a father only 17-18 days back. He promised his wife Namita Devi that once tension along the India-China border eased, he would come to see Diksha soon after. But that day will never come. His wish to see…

17 Jun

From feeding the stranded to helping them get home, Delhi Samaritans become helping hand for many

editor0 CommentsNorth East

NEW DELHI: Gullena Biraiah, an octogenarian from Telangana, wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi (Varanasi) in Uttar Pradesh, following a bitter quarrel with his son. But a series of miscommunications due to language barrier prolonged his journey, making him board trains to Kolkata and Odisha before he ended up in Delhi again. Before he could proceed further, he was struck by another blow—the nationwide Covid-19 Lockdown. Stranded for over 70 days at a shelter home in Delhi, Biraiah could return to his hometown in Jangaon, some 60 km from Warangal, only last week, thanks to a group of Samaritans…

17 Jun

Ensure payment of salaries to healthcare staff

editor0 CommentsNorth East

The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Centre to issue a direction to states for payment of salaries to doctors and healthcare workers treating Covid -19 patients. Warning that non-compliance of the order would be viewed seriously, the court asked Centre to file a report on payments within a month. It also said that healthcare staff involved in fighting the infection should not be denied quarantine facilities. During the hearing, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre, told the court that the government had already issued a circular saying that the healthcare workers must be paid. He also said that…

17 Jun

As Delhi plans next steps, on the table: Chinese stakes in Indian tech

editor0 CommentsNorth East

AS New Delhi plans its next military and diplomatic steps to deal with the unprecedented LAC standoff with China which cost the lives of 20 Indian Armymen Monday, on its table will be a factor that could also weigh in: the rising appetite of Chinese investors in Indian technology start-ups over the last five years. While China may not be a big investor in the traditional sense, and business relations are viewed more in terms of the trade deficit that India suffers, it is the new economy and start-up space where China has increased its influence.

17 Jun

PM Modi calls for all-party meeting on June 19 to discuss situation

editor0 CommentsNorth East

In an attempt to forge a broad political consensus on the situation at the India-China border, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday called for an all-party meeting on June 19, Friday. The move comes a day after the Army disclosed that 20 military personnel, including a colonel-rank officer, were killed in the worst flare-up on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in nearly five decades. The decision to call an all-party meeting comes after protracted discussions at top-level last night and this morning. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had met the prime minister late Tuesday night where they were said to have been joined by Home Minister Amit…

17 Jun

Nearly 12,000 deaths in 97 days: How India’s toll soared across states

editor0 CommentsNorth East

India’s death toll from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has exceeded the 10,000-mark after nearly 100 days since the first fatality was recorded in the country in March. The country added 2,004 deaths, including the 1,672 backlogged fatalities, and 10,951 infections in its Covid-19 tally on Tuesday, taking the toll to 11,919 from 353,853 infections. The country’s case fatality rate, which is defined as the proportion of death to the total number of cases, rose from 2.9% to 3.4%. The Union health ministry, which updates its data every morning, is yet to reflect the backlogged deaths. The death toll in India…

17 Jun

Salboni Hospital turns in to COVID-19 Level IV Hospital

editor0 CommentsHealth

Kolkata/ Salboni, June 17: In 2018, Government of West Bengal handed over the Operations & Total Management of this hospital to JSW Foundation (the social development arm of JSW Group) under a unique Public-Private-Partnership (PPP). Salboni’s Super Specialty Hospital is one of the hospitals established in West Bengal under the Government initiative to provide affordable and effective medical services to the public. JSW Foundation, over the last two years, through its PPP Agreement operationalized the medical services at this Hospital to a level wherein mass public, especially the rural poor, could avail free treatment. Recently, the State government decided to…

17 Jun

Rahul Gandhi demands answers over Galwan Valley face-off

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday demanded to know about the violent confrontation between Indian and Chinese armies along the undefined Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Army has said 20 of its soldiers, including a commanding officer, had been killed in clashes with Chinese troops in a major escalation of a weeks-long standoff between the two neighbours in the western Himalayas. “Why is the PM silent? Why is he hiding? Enough is enough. We need to know what has happened,” Gandhi tweeted. “How dare China kill our soldiers? How dare they take…

17 Jun

COVID-19: Pernod Ricard India’s contribution

editor0 CommentsArunachal Pradesh, Health, North East

Itanagar, June 2020: As the number of COVID-19 cases accelerates with lockdown restrictions easing across the country, Pernod Ricard India Foundation pledges support towards strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s Government Hospital ICUs and public Healthcare Infrastructure. In such time of distress, Pernod Ricard India Foundation is humbled to join hands with Excise Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh to provide preventive health care supplies such as 5 ICU ventilators, 10 ICU fowler beds and 5000 surgical masks for Arunachal Pradesh State. Pernod Ricard India Foundation remains resolute in its efforts supporting the State Healthcare Departments and Public Service and Delivery professionals, at the…

17 Jun

Commuters urge government to provide relief as fuel prices continue to rise

editor0 CommentsBusiness

The rates of fuel have been increased again in the national capital on Wednesday causing more troubles for the commuters. With the hike in fuel prices, the petrol prices stand at Rs 77.28/litre (increase by Rs 0.55), and the diesel prices stand at Rs 75.79/litre (increase by Rs 0.69) in Delhi, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies. Even a one rupee increase has an effect on us. The government should not increase prices like this, they should try to stop this hike as and when they can. Another customer, Naresh, at the same pump said that…