New Delhi, A fire broke out on a floor of a building in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (<keyword id="40458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS" source="Orion">AIIMS</keyword>) in Delhi on Monday. "A fire call has been received from the emergency ward of AIIMS at 11.54 hours. Total 8 fire tenders rushed to the site," Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg said. According to a source, the fire reportedly broke out in the endoscopy room of the building. The source claimed that all the patients have been evaluated safely, adding no injury was reported. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Fire breaks out in Delhi AIIMS, 8 fire tenders rushed

COVID-19 can affect almost all organs besides the lungs and the initial symptoms may be totally unrelated to chest complaints, according to experts at AIIMS here. They stressed that classification of cases into mild, moderate and severe categories based just on respiratory symptoms should be relooked to include other organ involvement. Experts from the institute, including its director Dr <keyword id="209402" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Randeep-Guleria">Randeep Guleria</keyword>, Dr MV Padma Srivastava, head of department of Neurology, Dr Ambuj Roy, Professor of Cardiology and Dr Neeraj Nischal, Associate Professor in the department of Medicine during their weekly '<keyword id="9832228" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-clinical-grand-rounds">National Clinical Grand Rounds</keyword>' organised in collaboration with NITI Aayog discussed various possible extra-pulmonary complications of COVID-19. Dr Guleria said eight months into COVID-19, a lot has been learnt and accordingly strategies are being changed from time to time. From what we thought of as a viral pneumonia has a lot of other manifestations which are beyond the lungs, he said. "As we have known more and more about COVID-19, we have realised it causes <keyword id="9832227" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="many-extra-pulmonary-manifestations">many extra pulmonary manifestations</keyword>. This is basically of the fact that this virus enters into cell through ACE2 receptors which although are present abundantly in upper airways and lungs, they are also present in many organs and thus other organs are also affected. "We have seen many patients who presented with features which are not been predominantly pulmonary but extra pulmonary manifestations," Dr Guleria said. He said though pulmonary manifestations continue to dominate as far as majority of COVID-19 cases are concerned, there is a significant number of patients who would present with manifestations which may be along with pulmonary manifestations or may be without pulmonary manifestations. "We as clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion during this pandemic -- when to suspect, treat and isolate these patients so that we can provide them good quality care," he stressed. The experts in the programme presented a number of cases in which the patients were labelled as asymptomatic or mild COVID but had serious life-threatening extra-pulmonary manifestations like stroke and heart blocks. "What started off as a viral pneumonia is now a multi-systemic disease. However, the jury is out whether SARS-COV2 is the culprit in these extra pulmonary manifestations or just an innocent bystander which happens to be at the wrong place at a wrong time," Dr Nischal said. "So the classification of COVID-19 into mild, moderate and severe cases based only on respiratory symptoms should be relooked into to incorporate other organ involvement," he said. Dr Nischal further underlined that management of such patients with other organ involvement should be as per existing guidelines of that particular complication. The doctor from the Medicine Department also highlighted the case of a 35-year old man who had headache and was vomiting but was found to have life threatening cortical vein thrombosis. When tested, he was found positive for COVID-19. He was asymptomatic for COVID-19 as per existing severity guidelines, Dr Nischal said. "There is a big spectrum of neurological manifestations which have been linked to COVID-19. In some patients, brain is involved and it may lead to clotting, resulting in stroke or can cause infection and lead to encephalitis or other complications which have nothing to do with lungs," Dr Padma said. Dr Ambuj's team presented the case of a patient who came with a very low pulse rate, detected COVID-19 positive and required initial support with some medicines to improve heart rate. "Normally pacemaker is put in such patients to improve their heart rate but based on experiences documented in literature, we realised some of these could be due to COVID-19, so a pacemaker was not put and her heart rate gradually improved with supportive treatment. "Sometimes, the electrical pulse system of the heart which gives rise to heart beat can be affected in COVID-19 and it is self-limiting and improves with time. So these patients who would otherwise normally require pacemaker may not ever need it. "However, more evidence is needed to be definitive about this as it is a new disease and limited information and experience regarding it is available as of now," Dr Roy said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-fires-two-missiles-into-the-south-china-sea-and-asian-markets-feel-the-blow/articleshow/77777358.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">China fires two missiles into the South China Sea and Asian markets feel the blow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/hike-brings-on-board-oyos-tech-honcho-to-lead-its-engineering/articleshow/77777836.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Hike brings on board OYO’s tech honcho to lead its engineering</a>

COVID-19 can affect all organs and not just lungs, say AIIMS experts

Bhubaneswar, Jun 9 () As many as 146 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Tuesday, including four doctors of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, raising the state's count to 3,140, a Health Department official said. The list of fresh cases also features 49 personnel of the NDRF and 12 from the Odisha Fire Service, all of whom tested positive after returning from West Bengal, where they were engaged in cyclone Amphan restoration work. "Four of our doctors, who were staying in home-quarantine, tested positive. Earlier, one doctor had contracted the virus," an AIIMS spokesperson said. Odisha now has 996 active cases, while the number of recoveries increased to 2,133. Nine people have so far died due to the contagion in the state, officials said. Of the 146 new cases, 127 were reported from different quarantine centres for returnees, and 19 were detected during contact-tracing, they said. At least 10 out of the 30 districts of Odisha have reported over 100 COVID-19 cases, the officials added. AAM RBT TIR TIR

4 AIIMS doctors among Odisha's new 146 COVID-19 cases

Guwahati, Jul 12 () Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday asked the construction firm building the AIIMS near here to engage local youth who have returned to the state due to the lockdown triggered by the coronavirus outbreak. The chief minister reviewed the progress of the construction of the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Changsari in Kamrup district and also held a meeting with officials of the construction firm. "Once completed, this institution will transform Assam into a medical hub of not only the Northeast region but entire Southeast Asia," he said. The first phase of construction would be completed within its stipulated deadline of June 2021 and the second phase by June 2022, he said. The chief minister also directed state government departments to extend full cooperation in the construction of AIIMS. He reviewed the status of installation of power substations, drainage layout for releasing stormwater coming down from the nearby hills, provisions for drinking water, emergency response systems like fire outbreak management within the complex and other facilities. He directed the officials engaged in the construction to make it one of the most beautiful AIIMS campuses in the country. The Centre has released Rs 757 crore out of the total estimated project cost of over Rs 1,200 crore. He appreciated Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, who was also present there, for constantly monitoring and supervising the construction works. DG SOM SOM

Employ youths who returned due to lockdown in construction of AIIMS in Assam: Sonowal to contractor

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51776724.cms" /> 
 
A total of 112 people have died so far because of a huge fire that erupted early morning yesterday, as a result of a massive fireworks display. The display was a part of the concluding day of the annual festival at a Kali temple in Paravur, Kerala. The fire has also incinerated and wounded nearly 400 others, who were in the radius of half kilometres from the temple. 
 Last evening, police detained five people and filed cases against contractors <keyword id="3318601" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Varkala-Krishnankutty">Varkala Krishnankutty</keyword> and <keyword id="3318602" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kazhakoottam-Surendran">Kazhakoottam Surendran</keyword>, who were entrusted with the fireworks by the temple authorities. While Surendran is himself critically injured in the fire, Krishnankutty is absconding. 
Prima facie, temple authorities violated the district administration's order against holding a fireworks show, while also violating the Supreme Court's directive against the use of fireworks beyond 10pm. 
 
As the incident saw the light of the day, rescue teams found bodies charred beyond recognition, with several body parts missing, some of which were littered on tree branches and under concrete slabs. 
 
"It wasn't the fire alone that scorched people but the way they were hit by broken concrete that flew like projectiles. People close to the fireworks display were flattened by heavy stones and concrete," Biju G, a witness, told TOI. 
 
The incident reportedly occurred when sparks from a rocket fell on an auto packed with explosives and on an adjacent storeroom that stored more explosives. 
 
To make things worse, it has come into notice that the permission for the show is refused every year, but the rule is violated nonetheless. Even the police remain away from intervening, because of the fear of hurting religious sentiments associated with this 50-year-old practice. 
"We will investigate how the orders were flouted and who was responsible for the decision to go ahead with the fireworks display," said CM Oommen Chandy. 
 
However, the rescue work needs to be given a special mention. PM Modi himself flew down to Kollam with a team of specialist doctors from AIIMS, asking to break the protocol. "It was a shocking and horrific accident. In the explosion, heads got severed from bodies. We will ensure all support. We stand with the people of Kerala and will extend all possible help," Modi said. IAF also made available its helicopters for swift rescue operations. 
 
As compensation, relatives of those who died will receive Rs 10 lakh, while those who are seriously injured will receive Rs 2 lakh each and those with minor injuries will receive Rs 50,000 each. The Union government has also announced Rs 2 lakh as compensation for the kin of each deceased person. 
 
From the international circuit, Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin have conveyed their condolences to President Mukherjee and PM Modi. 
 
<a href="http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/Photo_gallery/kerala-5_041016063230.jpg">Image source</a>

Kollam Temple Fire: Toll at 112, 5 people detained

(Eds: With more inputs) Bhubaneswar, Jun 16 () Odisha's COVID-19 tally mounted to 4,163 with 108 more people testing positive for coronavirus, a health department official said on Tuesday. The new cases include 16 personnel of the Odisha Police Fire Service, who were placed under institutional quarantine upon their return from West Bengal following cyclone-restoration work, he added. The number of disaster response personnel testing positive for the disease in the state has now increased to 174. The personnel of the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service contracted the virus in different phases, the official said. The state capital reported five new cases, including an employee of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, he said. Nine AIIMS employees, including doctors, had tested positive for the disease earlier this month. Odisha has 1,175 active COVID-19 cases at present, while 2,974 patients have recovered. Eleven persons have died due to the contagion in the state. Of the state's 30 districts, 15 have reported more than 100 coronavirus cases. Four districts have cases in excess of 300 -- Ganjam (697), Cuttack (517), Khurda (369) and Jajpur (341), the official added. AAM RBT RC

Odisha's COVID-19 count rises to 4,163 with 108 new cases

<ul><li>Former Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely passed away at AIIMS on Saturday after prolonged illness. Jaitley had undergone dialysis on Thursday.</li><li>He was one of the few BJP members that supported PM Narendra Modi's back when he was under fire for 2004 Godhra riots. </li></ul> <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword>, India's former Finance Minister, and prominent BJP leader passed away today at AIIMS. "It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former <keyword id="6391015" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister-arun-jaitley">Finance Minister Arun Jaitley</keyword>, Member of Parliament (MP) at 12:07 p.m. on Saturday. Jaitley was admitted in AIIMS, New Delhi on August 9 and was treated by a multi-disciplinary team of senior doctors," said Aarti Vij, Chairperson, Media and Protocol, AIIMS. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="70815608" title="Arun Jaitley, every big man's friend, passes away at the age of 66-- leaves behind lessons in the art of the possible" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Here are some lesser-known facts about Arun Jaitley <div type="embedgroup" originid="carousel_1566633571133"><title>Untitled Carousel</title> <div type="Slideshow" msid="70815904" hostid="261" title="Arun Jaitley, the man who had Narendra Modi&amp;#39;s back during Gujarat riots" rank="1.0" mstype="8" mssubtype="0" firstImageMsid="70816100" slideCount="9"></div></div>

Lesser known facts about the late Arun Jaitley

By Asim Kamal(Eds: SPECIAL) New Delhi, May 4 () The convalescent plasma therapy is no "magic bullet" to deal with coronavirus, and only large-scale controlled trials can ascertain its efficacy as part of the treatment strategy, top medical experts said on Monday, even as several states are considering the use of the therapy to treat critically-ill COVID-19 patients. The therapy involves taking antibodies from the blood of a person who has recovered from COVID-19 and transfusing those antibodies into an active coronavirus patient to help kickstart the immune system to fight the infection.The Health Ministry last week warned against its use, saying that the plasma therapy for treatment of coronavirus patients is at an experimental stage and has the potential to cause life-threatening complications.However, some state governments, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra and Delhi have shown keenness for plasma therapy treatment, and the Centre has permitted few states to perform plasma therapy on a limited number of COVID-19 patients. Top medical experts feel it should not be looked upon as something that could make a "huge difference" in the treatment of COVID-19 and only randomised controlled trials can prove its efficacy as an important treatment strategy. Director of AIIMS, Delhi, Randeep Guleria said there have been very few convalescent plasma therapy trials as far as COVID-19 is concerned, and only in very few patients it has shown some benefit. "It is just one part of the treatment strategy. It helps improve the person's own immunity by giving what we call passive immunity because the antibodies in the plasma enter the blood and try to help fight the virus in the afflicted individual. It is not something which will dramatically make a difference," Guleria told . There is no study to suggest that "it is a magic bullet" or it will make a dramatic difference, but it is part of the armamentarium of treatment that physicians have along with other drugs, the senior pulmonologist said. ICMR has already called for a proposal and a large number of institutes have enrolled for the convalescent plasma therapy trials, he said. "Important issue to remember is that not everyone's plasma can be given, you also have to test the blood ----whether it is safe and also has enough antibodies. So, you have to have an antibody testing mechanism which is being done by NIV (National Institute of Virology), Pune, to show that the plasma you are giving has enough antibodies" Guleria said. Research should be done on a multi-pronged treatment strategy and should not be focused on only one strategy, the AIIMS Director said. "You will need to give it to a large number of individuals, more than 200 or 300 people and then analyse the data...We should go ahead in research mode giving it to more people and do a proper well conducted study so as to know one way or the other," Guleria said. Dr Vivek Nangia, Director Pulmonology, MICU and Sleep Disorders, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, said the therapy is only in the experimental stage, but it is promising as there is a clinical knowledge involved, and also some experiments and past experience behind it having been used for SARS and H1N1 epidemics in a limited manner. "Dire circumstances require desperate measures, you need to have an out of the box thinking and this is one of those measures, when nothing else is working you want to try this, there is no harm. It has its pros and cons," he told . Backing Guleria, Nangia also said, "larger randomized placebo-controlled trials are very essential only then we can make it a standard of therapy." These expert views come amid lack of definitive evidence in favour of or against the use of the convalescent plasma therapy.As per reports, a patient who was administered plasma therapy for the first time at a private hospital here was discharged last week after being cured, while the first person to undergo plasma therapy in Maharashtra had died in Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had said last week that the Delhi government will not stop clinical trials of plasma therapy to treat severally-ill COVID-19 patients as its initial results are good. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that with the ICMR nod, SMS hospital in Jaipur will start convalescent plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients from Monday, while Maharashtra, which had started the trials last month after a nod from the ICMR, is considering to continue with it despite the Union health ministry warning. Professor Rajesh Malhotra, Chief Trauma Centre AIIMS, said as of now, there is no concrete evidence of convalescent plasma therapy's usefulness."It essentially relies on the assumption that the body fires up its resistance in the form of chemicals called antibodies to fight the infection and those who have recovered have sufficient numbers in their convalescent plasma to fight the infection," Malhotra said. However, the degree of antibody response that a person throws and the timing are variables, making it difficult to have a predictable standard protocol, he said. It is too early to say if plasma treatment is the only way and it has its own risks also, the AIIMS professor said, adding that at present it is at best an experimental therapy and definitive answers cannot be obtained without large-scale trials.Dr Pankaj Kumar, Head of Critical Care Unit Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, echoed similar views, saying trials till now are too small to clear doubts about the therapy and large-scale trials should be done. "Theoretically speaking it should be helpful because we are taking the antibodies from a person who has had the infection. But it is still experimental... we have to weigh the risks and benefits," he told . Dr Atul Kakar, Vice-Chairman, Department of Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said it is very important to pick the right patient for being the donor as he has to have a very severe infection so that the antibodies are quite high and should be free from other viruses. ASK PYKPYK

Plasma therapy 'no magic bullet' against COVID-19; Need large-scale trials to prove efficacy: Experts

<ul><li>A Delhi Court convicted former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar for kidnapping and raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. </li><li>Sengar convicted for rape under IPC, POCSO Act for offence of public servant committing penetrative sexual assault on child. </li><li>The court, however, acquitted co-accused Shashi Singh of all charges. </li></ul> A Delhi Court convicted former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar for kidnapping and raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. Sengar convicted for rape under IPC, POCSO Act for offence of public servant committing penetrative sexual assault on child. The court however acquitted co-accused Shashi Singh of all charges. The court to hear arguments on the quantum of sentence for Sengar on Wednesday. The CBI investigation The Central Bureau of Investigation gave a statement to the Delhi High Court that the charges of rape pressed by the 19-year-old girl against Senghar are correct. The investigating agency had said that they have sufficient evidence to prove Senghar guilty. Senghar is guilty of plotting the rape of the minor along with co-accused Shashi Singh, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/theres-truth-in-unnao-girls-charges-against-mla-says-cbi/articleshow/70579702.cms">reported</a> Times of India citing CBI. The rape survivor, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, told the CBI that Singh took her inside Senghar's residence, and gang-raped her. CBI <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/timeline-of-events-for-unnao-rape-case/articleshow/70466622.cms"> also accused Senghar</a> of engineering an accident that took place on 28 July which killed both her aunts. She and her lawyer were also critically injured. On August 6, s<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/unnao-rape-survivor-her-lawyer-to-be-shifted-from-up-to-aiims-in-delhi-for-treatment-says-supreme-co-2080443">he was taken</a> off the ventilator and airlifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/unnao-rape-survivor-accident-cbi-fir-mla-kuldeep-sengar-1575481-2019-07-31">CBI filed a case against</a> Sengar and eight others for the accident. Fighting for the right to justice The conviction might be too little too late, as the survivor faced many hardships and l<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/timeline-of-events-for-unnao-rape-case/articleshow/70466622.cms">ost her father and two aunts</a> in her long extended fight for justice. Her father was arrested on an arms case and had died in police custody. A few days before her accident, she wrote to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on July 12 mentioning the possibility of a threat. Unfortunately,<a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/didnt-receive-letter-from-unnao-rape-survivors-kin-says-cji-gogoi-seeks-report-from-sc-registry-on-delay-2252495.html"> the message reached CJI Ranjan Gogoi</a> on 30 July, two days after the accident. After <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-apex-court-directs-up-state-government-to-grant-25-lakh-as-interim-compensation-to-unnao-rape-survivor/articleshow/70482765.cms">the accident</a>, a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi also <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-unnao-case-hearing-live-updates-1575940-2019-08-01">transferred </a>the all the five Unnao cases — rape, case on her father under Arms Act, a case on the custodial death of the father, murder case against Kuldeep Sengar, and finally the accident — to Delhi High Court on 1 August 2019. The Supreme Court also ordered the bench to conclude all the judicial proceedings within 45 days. The apex court also issued orders to provide ₹250,000 as interim compensation to the survivors. In 2019, two rape cases shocked the nation when both the victims were burnt to death. The first was the rape and murder of a 27-year old doctor in <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/rape-rage-and-an-exchange-of-fire/article30300278.ece">Hyderabad which culminated into an encounter where</a> all the accused were shot by Telangana police. Yet another rape victim of Unnao itself <a href="http://bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50697139">died a horrific death as the 23 year old was stabbed</a> and set on fire as she was on her way to a court hearing. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/hyderabad-rape-case-accused-shot-dead-in-a-police-encounter/articleshow/72393351.cms">Hyderabad rape case accused shot dead in an encounter and magisterial probe is ordered</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-apex-court-directs-up-state-government-to-grant-25-lakh-as-interim-compensation-to-unnao-rape-survivor/articleshow/70482765.cms">India’s apex court directs UP state government to grant ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to Unnao rape survivor</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/timeline-of-events-for-unnao-rape-case/articleshow/70466622.cms">A 19-year old Indian rape victim lost her father and nearly lost her life in her fight for justice</a>

Unnao rape case: Delhi Court convicts ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar

(Eds: combines related series)New Delhi, Apr 12 () A police officer's hand was chopped off with a sword in a brutal attack on Sunday by a group of Nihang Sikhs in Punjab on a team enforcing the 21-day coronavirus lockdown even as the Centre focused on plans to ease some restrictions during the likely extension of the unprecedented measure beyond April 14. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases inched closer to 9,000 with a total of 918 infections reported in the last 24 hours, On Sunday, there was a record increase of over 1,000 cases. Amid demands for ramping up health surveillance, the Centre said it is expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity in state-run as well as private medical colleges. The Punjab attack shortly after dawn in which three other men of the state police and a civilian were also injured happened when the Nihangs were asked to show curfew passes at a vegetable market in Sanaur town in Patiala district, police said. Eleven persons including five attackers were arrested hours later after an exchange of fire at Nihang Dera complex which also houses Gurdwara Khichdi Sahib at Balbera village, about 25 km from Patiala city, after the group fled from the scene of crime, police said.The incident happened around 6.15 am. A video clip on social media appears to show Assistant Sub Inspector(ASI) Harjeet Singh seeking help after his left hand was severed in the attack. A man picks up the portion of the hand that was ripped off and gives it to the officer who keeps it with him. He is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler. The ASI was rushed to a nearby local hospital and then referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh where he was undergoing surgery, police said. With a lockdown in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, barricades were put up outside the wholesale market and entry restricted to those with curfew passes. The Nihangs -- members of a Sikh sect whose adherents carry traditional arms and wear blue robes -- arrived in an SUV and were told to stop by 'mandi' officials, police said "They were asked to show passes. But they rammed the vehicle against the gate and the barricades," said Patiala's Senior Superintendent of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu. The group then attacked the police personnel and fled to the Gurdwaramanaged by them. The 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in place from March 25 in a bid to halt the spread of COVID-19 and is scheduled to end on Tuesday. Four states - Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab and Odisha - have already extended the coronavirus lockdown in their respective territories till April 30. The tally of numbers reported by various states at 6.30 pm showed at least 8,933 positive coronavirus cases and 296 deaths. A total of 981 people have been cured and discharged so far. According to the latest Union Health Ministry update, as many as 918 COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of such cases to 8,447 and the fatalities to 273. It said 765 people have so far recovered from the infection. The number of cases crossed 1,000 in Tamil Nadu which now joins Maharashtra and Delhi to have a maximum number of positive COVID-19 infections. The ministry also asserted that the government is "extra prepared" if there is an exponential rise in the number of coronavirus patients. Addressing a press briefing, Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the government is expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity in state-run as well as private medical colleges. "We are working on an urgent basis to expand the capacity for COVID-19 testing in government and private medical colleges across the country. Fourteen mentor institutes, including the AIIMS and NIMHANS, have been identified to mentor the medical colleges and expand the coronavirus testing capacity," he added. According to ICMR officials, a total of 1,86,906 samples have so far been tested across the country, of which 7,953 have been found positive for COVID-19. "In the last five days, on an average, 15,747 samples were tested per day and 584 of those were found to be positive per day," an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official said at the press briefing A broad consensus has emerged that the national lockdown should be extended by at least two weeks after a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and state chief ministers on Saturday. Several chief ministers at the same time have pushed for resumption of some economic activities like in the farming sector in regions with no COVID-19 cases. The Centre in consultation with states is moving to restart economic activities in a graded manner in what is seen as a nuanced change in strategy from saving lives a month ago to saving lives as well as livelihoods now in the fight against the pandemic. It has sought inputs related to production, labour and logistics from clusters in five key sectors to ascertain expected output if they are made operational within a fortnight and procedural support required, official sources said. The five sectors are textiles, chemicals, electronics, steel and pharmaceutical, the sources said. States are likely to designate districts, towns and cities as red, orange and green zones depending upon the number of COVID-19 case as part of efforts to allow differentiated restoration of normalcy with conditions like uses of masks and social distancing in public. Union minister Nitin Gadkari said talks are underway with state governments to re-start highway construction projects where migrant labourers can be gainfully employed, In a video-conference with , the road transport, highways and MSME minister said efforts are on for facilitating safe return of migrant labourers, an estimated 20 lakh of whom are in shelters pan-India. "I had a meeting with road sector officials. Work can be re-started at projects with condition that adequate measures are taken for safeguard against coronavirus. We have to follow guidelines. At some places collectors have given permission, some not. We are doing a follow up along with the chief secretaries of the states," the minister said. Gadkari's comments come against the backdrop of a report by the World Bank that migrants face a stark choice between potentially starving in urban centres without work or long and potentially fatal journeys over hundreds of miles to their home districts. In the report titled "South Asia Economic Update: Impact of COVID-19", the report at the same time said migrant workers returning home could become vectors carrying the coronavirus to unaffected states and villages and that preliminary findings indicated in India many out-migration areas are likely to have COVID-19 cases. The Centre has asked the state and union territories to take welfare measures for the migrant labourers living in camps in different parts of the country that include food, shelter, medicine, mobile and video call facilities. The Bihar government also reached out and provided relief to over 5 lakh distressed residents of the state stranded in Delhi and other parts of the country, a senior official said in Patna. The Karnataka government said it is studying in-depth the consequences of possible relaxation of lockdown norms after April 14 and plans to come out with a clear roadmap in a day or two, according to Medical Education Minister Sudhakar K . Kerala, which was the first state in the country to report a coronavirus infection in late January, has prepared a time table for coming out of the lockdown and there would be district-specific strategies to tackle the situation while the number of cases are on the decline. Ramping up efforts to "stamp out" coronavirus cases in the state, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac told that an exit strategy is being prepared and restrictions are being relaxed in certain segments, including agriculture. CHS VSD ASH NAM GJS UZM RAM RS ACB GSN GSNGSN

Punjab police officer's hand chopped off in lockdown attack; Centre puts focus on plans to ease some restrictions

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35202606.cms" />In the list of annual honours, released by the <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> this year, you will find the name of Dr Balram Bhargava from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He has been awarded the Padma Shri. 
 
Every year, thousands of students aspiring for a career in medicine have AIIMS at the top of their priority list. Studying there is almost a sure-fire guarantee to a glittering career in medicine and often a pathway to the foreign shores. 
 
However, Dr Bhargava and others are now focusing on the concept of frugal innovation (now the subject of academic books) and using it to create a new family of low-cost, high-impact medical devices right here in India. 
 In Dr Bhargava’s case, his team is developing a chest compression device that helps treat cases of sudden cardiac arrest. Funded by the <keyword id="232223" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Wellcome-Trust">Wellcome Trust</keyword> of the UK, the device is currently in prototype stage. But given the increasing cost of production in the West, it is quite likely that mass-scale production (as and when it begins) will only start in countries like India and China. 
 Dr Bhargava is no stranger to innovation or foreign collaborations, though. Earlier, he had established the Center for Excellence for Stem Cell Studies where a lot of work has been done to cater to the patients suffering from dilated <keyword id="836702" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="cardiomyopathy">cardiomyopathy</keyword> – a world’s first in terms of treatment. He is also an executive director with the Stanford-India Biodesign Program, a joint venture between Stanford University, AIIMS and the IIT-Delhi, designed to promote medical innovations through shared expertise. 
 
That’s just one model of innovation, driven by a multi-agency collaboration approach. Going the garage start-up route is Mumbai-based medical devices firm Biosense, which last year secured $500,000 in seed funding from multiple investors. Its first product is ToucHb – a device that can screen for anaemia without using a needle to draw blood from the patient. In a country where nearly 52% of women are anaemic and childbirth problems due to this condition often turn out to serious, such devices can literally save lives. 
 
Since then, the company has introduced a smartphone-based diagnostic system called uChek that does urine analysis. This analysis can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including the 60 million or so Indians suffering from diabetes. Another device to test sugar levels, using the blood drawn from a patient, has also been rolled out recently. It is called SüChek. 
 
Ironically, India has not been a stranger to innovations in terms of health technology. The introduction of the now world-renowned Jaipur Foot almost four decades ago has amply proved what creative solutions, applied to Indian conditions, could do to benefit the world. However, the non-profit model behind such innovations has also exposed the weakness of this approach. 
 Companies like <keyword id="2243396" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="GE-Medical">GE Medical</keyword> and <keyword id="327914" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Philips-Healthcare">Philips Healthcare</keyword>, which have leveraged India’s pool of skilled human resources, have reaped the big bucks by successfully commercialising technology at an industrial scale. However, the vast majority of Indians still cannot leverage the benefits of their expensive products. 
 What India needs is a marriage of frugal innovation techniques, relevant to Indian needs, with a Western-style focus on scale and profitability. Start-ups like Forus Health, founded by Dr Shyam Vasudeva Rao, former head of technology at <keyword id="49855" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="philips">Philips</keyword> Healthcare’s India operations, might just be what the doctor ordered. 
 
India has a shockingly disproportionate number of visually impaired people, 12 million at the last count. In fact, one-fourth of the world’s visually challenged population lives in this country. Worse still, 80% of these people could have retained their eyesight, had they had timely medical attention. In a country with a 1:60,000 doctor-patient ratio, it is easy to understand where the problem lies. 
 
Forus’ solution called 3nethra is an ophthalmology device that is both portable and inexpensive, making it ideal for rural areas where the bulk of these cases occur. As highly trained ophthalmologists are in short supply in those areas, the device supports telemedicine interventions and provides automated reports for up to five common eyesight ailments. 
 
That India is unable to provide high quality healthcare to millions is not a unique issue. This is exactly why China has been an early adopter of 3nethra, giving some indication of the global market for such innovations. 
 
With such a compelling business proposition, Forus has no dearth of investors. Top VC firms like Accel Partners and IDG Ventures have backed the Bangalore-based company, and a Series B round of investment was also completed earlier this year. 
 
Such innovations, while costing a fraction of the competition, are cutting-edge ones; so low-cost innovations should not necessarily be interpreted as low-tech. In addition, it not only showcases India as a low-cost manufacturing destination but also as a premier location for high-end research, design and product development. 
 
Now, with the right addition of entrepreneurial dosage, India’s health sector may go from strength to strength. 
 
Image: Thinkstock

Low-cost Innovation May Transform India’s Healthcare Industry

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47297071.cms" />Modi Government is about to complete one year in office and one year is a significant time for understanding the intent and to some extent the performance of any government. <keyword id="2403978" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="The-Modi-government">The Modi government</keyword> had won the election on the plank of development and its promise to bring ‘acche din’. The article tries to trace some of the promises that were made and the performance of the government during the previous year under various broad themes. 
 
Economy- The government has been helped by what a prominent editor termed ‘acche sitare’, ‘good luck’. It is no doubt true that fall in commodity prices in general and crude oil, in particular, helped the government reign in the <keyword id="6365485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="fiscal-deficit">fiscal deficit</keyword> and give it headway to make fiscal policies for the country. The fiscal deficit target for 2015-16 has been the pegged by the budget to 3.9%. While this is little above than recommendations of the Fourteenth <keyword id="74136" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="finance-commission">Finance Commission</keyword> ( which recommended it to be 3.6 percent of the <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword>), the government has understandably batted for growth. The government still is slowly but surely moving towards the limit set by FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Management) Act, 2003 that pegged the target at a maximum level of 3% of the GDP. The government has also tried to help the <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> gain momentum by enabling legislation for reforms. These included trying to go in for a major reform in the indirect taxation regime as well as accepting the recommendations of Fourteenth <keyword id="25455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="finance">Finance</keyword> Commission in respect to revenue sharing with states. It was ostensibly done to ensure a spirit of ‘cooperative federalism’ between states and center, as well as greater financial devolution to states. The figure now stands at 42% of the total revenue collection up from the earlier 32%. Also, the year saw growth forecasts been revised for India by a number of International Bodies and agencies. The IMF revised its forecasts to 7.5 % In 2015 in its WEO April 2015 forecast. It was up from the 6.4 projected for 2015 in the WEO April 2014 forecast. Similarly, the Asian Development Bank in its Asian Development Outlook 2015, indicated a bettering economy with less than 5 percent core <keyword id="22195" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Inflation">inflation</keyword>. They also alluded to the new monetary policy framework according to which RBI, India's central bank is to play the role of price stabilization primarily while being mindful of growth. With the policy framework in place, the central bank will be maintaining the inflation target of 4±2 % from FY 2016 onwards. Thus with an overall bettering situation a total score of 7.5 out of 10. 
 
Foreign Engagement and Defence- Foreign engagement was by far the area where the most vigorous activity and keen intent were observed. The sphere saw initiatives undertaken by the PM himself to make India more noticeable as well as more integrated with the International sphere. It included among many things, trips to foreign countries both in the neighbourhood as well as to countries like Germany, France, Australia, US, Canada and most recently beginning May 14, 2015 his trip to China. The engagement also saw a large number of foreign dignitaries coming to India from across the world. The engagement also saw bilateral agreements as well as plans to invest in India's development by countries and companies abroad, most notably by Japan, US and China. Also, steps to resolve contentious issues have been undertaken pertaining to the border areas with neighbours. It includes the recently passed Bangladesh Land Accord Bill that envisages transferring enclaves and demarcation of the boundary along the present porous borders. Also, in the broad sphere of defence the decision to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets is a welcome step. More such acquisitions will have to be made since these 36 planes would add just two squadrons to thirty-five squadrons that IAF has. It is below an authorized strength of forty-two which will be down to twenty- five by 2022. It means we must speed up the process of defense acquisitions since there is urgent need to upgrade and modernize the armed forces and security apparatus in India. Overall a score of 8.5 out of 10 foreign engagement and 7.5 out of 10 on defence. 
 
 
Agriculture- Here the government has not been able to do that well, and it is understandable because there has been erratic weather accentuated by some mismanagement by the government. The sector is critical as most people are dependent on it for employment. Added to the weather were the issues of land acquisition and urea availability to farmers. Land Acquisition Bill though being blocked by the opposition on the farmer rights plank is linked directly to the development of clusters and employment of youth for especially rural areas. The focus of the government seems to be the development of irrigation facilities under its Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. A fund was proposed to be set up for marginalized farmers with a corpus of Rs. 25000 crores in NABARD. An overall score of 6.5 on 10. 
 
Industrial policy and power- Industrial policy saw a continuity from the previous regime. The National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) was hailed by the 'Make in India' as the 'most comprehensive and significant policy initiative of the government'. The 'Make in India' is an initiative that is critically dependent on other factors. These include availability of land, ease of doing business as well as removal of inverse duty structures that make imports of finished products cheaper than finished products. Apart from this labour policies that favour flexibility in hiring and firing are also seen to be the main bottlenecks. While the government has taken some steps to rectify, these bottlenecks outcomes are yet to be seen. Similarly, the <keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword> policy has seen incremental reforms with the opening up of <keyword id="35450" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="insurance">insurance</keyword> and defence sectors further to 49% from the earlier limit of 26%. Both these are positive steps for the economy. Greater structural changes could have been undertaken in these spheres especially with the mandate, but nonetheless significant work is been done. In the power sector, much has been achieved. It included the successful auction of the coal mines, which is slated to rope in a massive 15 lakh crore over the 30-year timeframe if all the mines are auctioned and are working at optimum output. Apart from this coal production was at an all-time high as well as the government seems on track to meet the power requirements of the country. Overall a score of 6.5 for industries and a score of 8 for power out of 10. 
 
Education- The countries' education system can broadly be classified under two broad areas- higher education and school education. There are several schemes that are operational under these. The government in the past one-year has come up with several new initiatives including the Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan, Swachh Vidyalaya and GIS Mapping of schools and has opened several new institutions. However, the fact remains that despite all government’s initiatives most people if given a choice, prefer private schooling since it gives their children a competitive edge later on in their careers. The governments of the past have failed in this and correcting this anomaly will take time. Also, in respect to higher education the government seems keen to have holistic development with several new AIIMS, IIM and IIT like institutions being opened in states that have a paucity of these. What remains to seen is how quality and not just quantity is pursued within these institutions while ensuring regional development. An overall score of 6.5 on 10. 
 
Infrastructure- The primary focus of the government in this sphere is up-gradation of existing and quick development of new infrastructure. The first can be observed in the push for railway up-gradation and improvement in customer service. The second can be observed more in the highways sector with the minister setting himself a target of 30 km a day by 2017. In March this year 11 km of roads were being laid. The broad ambit of infrastructure covers the development of roads, highways, ports, airport, waterways, canals, and railways. It is too early to judge the government's progress on the same however the fact that there is clearance for projects worth close to Rs. 6 lakh Crore across 10 key sectors. It shows intent on the part of government for infrastructure development. Overall a score of 7.5 on 10. 
 
Social Schemes- The social schemes of the government have been particularly impressive. These include the <keyword id="2494045" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="jan-dhan">Jan Dhan</keyword> Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana and many other social missions like the <keyword id="6562839" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Swacch-Bharat-Mission">Swacch Bharat Mission</keyword> and the Clean Ganga Mission. For the Jan Dhan Yojana already around 12.5 crore accounts have been opened along with a capital infusion of Rs 10,500 crore into the system. The three recently launched social security schemes (namely the (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana ) and Atal Pension Yojana) have got nearly 6.5 crore subscriptions. It is because (PMJJBY) scheme offers Rs. 2 lakh cover for a mere 330 Rs. Per year (provided bank account holders are from age 18-50). Under the (PMSBY), renewable one-year accident cum disability cover of Rs. 2 lakh is provided for Rs.12 premium every year. The Atal Pension Yojana is aimed at those people who work in the unorganised sector and do not fall under the ambit of regular pension. The scheme offers pension under various brackets depending on the contribution made over a period. The scheme is for people in the age bracket 18-40 years. The social focus of the government is also evident from the fact the government has continued with previous schemes and linked them with technology for targeted interventions. The JAM (Jan Dhan Account, Aadhaar Cards and Mobiles) number Trinity as mentioned in the budget speech is an example of the same. The government seems to have a social focus for benefit to poor. An overall score of 8 on 10. 
 
Urbanization and Urban development- The urbanization and urban development received an increased thrust under the 100 Smart City project. The thrust of the present government is not only on up gradation of brownfield cities but also development of new greenfield cities. Traditionally, India has been slow to urbanize, and at present 32 percent of people reside in urban areas. However, the quality of urban life has seen a precipitous decline in the past few decades. The government's smart city initiative is a step aimed at understanding and absorbing the migration of people from rural to urban areas. However, the implementation of the project holds the key. Success in greenfield development is critically linked to land acquisition. Also, will the 'smart cities' improve liveability for the ever-burgeoning population remains to be seen? The project is ambitious in scope and the past year has seen some activity with the launch of the GIFT city in Gujarat and work on cities of DMIDC. An overall score of 6.5 on 10. 
 
Health and Environment- Health along with education have been two areas where successive governments have faltered. The system in India needs a drastic overhaul and increased spending by the government. Also there is a severe shortage of trained personnel in the sector. Add to this the decrepit facilities in rural areas that forces one to look at ways and means to better delivery. The activity in the health ministry was seen to be rather subdued. However, the taxation on cigarettes ensures that a majority of population reconsiders decision to buy cigarettes. The quality of air and the general pollution levels in Indian cities pose serious health issues for all residents. Disease patterns are also changing and this calls for a comprehensive approach to healthcare access and delivery. Not much has been done in this regard. An overall score of 6 on 10. 
 
<keyword id="107737" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Entrepreneurship">Entrepreneurship</keyword> and Employment- For the first time a separate ministry for entrepreneurship has seen the light of the day. This fact along with the fact that skilling are the main thrust areas of the ministry make it clear that the government is in sync with the present ground reality. A million people will enter the workforce every month over the next decade. So it becomes imperative that India produces jobs for its burgeoning workforce. That will not just come from formal and informal sector but will require a thrust for entrepreneurship. Similarly, thrust for skilling is imperative. Further, a draft policy on skill development and entrepreneurship has already been made and put out for public consultation. Though much remains to be seen in terms of its impact the direction and intent, in this case, seems to be spot on. An overall score of 7.5 on 10. 
 
Overall, in assessing the performance, the government seems to have taken cognizance of the major challenges facing India in multiple spheres and taken requisite steps. It seems to be headed in the right direction. It augurs well for India in the medium to long term. Much will depend on the speed of legislation, decision-making and implementation over the next four years. 
 
(Dr. Amit Kapoor is President and CEO of India Council on Competitiveness and Honorary Chairman of Institute for Competitiveness, India. He tweets @kautiliya and can be contacted at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a>. The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma who is Senior Researcher at Institute for Competitiveness)

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