Friday, September 28, 2012

AIDS bomb ticking in Banda

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Lucknow/AIDS-bomb-ticking-in-Banda/Article1-933990.aspx
A simple RTI query in Banda about HIV positive/AIDS cases has brought forth the enormity of the problem in the Bundelkhand region.   According to experts, a lot of these cases can be attributed to the rising level of migration in the region. Ashish Dixit, the 
RTI activist who had filed the application, said, “drought and the resultant farm crisis has turned migration into a habit. The scenario is the same in all seven districts of the Bundelkhand region.”
Before 2008, there were hardly any HIV/AIDS diagnostic centres but now there are 10 such centres in Banda, said a source. Cases come to these centres, in most instances, when infection turns serious, he added. In five years till 2012, as many as 189 women were detected with HIV/AIDS, of which 43 were pregnant. Similarly, 228 men were tested HIV+ during the period. Of the total 417 persons who were detected with the infection, 70 are already dead. “The figures are just a tip of the iceberg. If the number of diagnosed cases is so high, one can only imagine what the actual picture looks like,” said Dr Rakesh Babu, district AIDS control officer, Banda.
“Nevertheless, 417 is no less a figure for a small district like Banda with a population of 18 lakh,” said Mamta Pandey of Abhudaya Sansthan, an organisation working with HIV/AIDS patients. Pandey said, of late, migration has become a habit in the region and the migrating population is a major carrier of the HIV infection.
Referring to a recent report of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), she said migration was the biggest multiplier of HIV/AIDS cases nationwide.
“It would be no exaggeration to presume that the scenario in Bundelkhand is far grave than known because of a very high rate of migration. Families migrate around Diwali and return around Holi,” said Pandey.  “The rate of migration in urban and rural areas of the district is more or less same. While 20% to 25% is the rate of migration in the town area, it is nearly 30% in rural areas,” she added.
“Even pregnant women reach for diagnosis when it is almost impossible to administer a therapy to prevent infection to the fetus. So either they are advised to terminate pregnancies or the children are born with infection,” said Dr Babu. He said diagnostic facilities are likely to increase in times to come, and this would apparently bring more cases to the fore.  At present, there are no ART (anti retroviral therapy) facilities in Banda and patients are sent for treatment/management to Kanpur and Allahabad.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Vigilance Probe Ordered Against Mawayati Aide

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=775762
Uttar Pradesh government has ordered vigilance inquiry against former minister and close Mayawati aide, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, on Lokayukta's recommendation in a disproportionate assets case.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday ordered a vigilance inquiry against Sidduqui, official sources here said today.

Lokayukta N K Mehrotra on the complaint of Ashish Sagar Dixit against Siddiqui and his son Afzal Siddiqui had last month recommended a probe by CBI or ED after finding the charges of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income in their home district Banda.

There were two separate complaints against Siddiqui and his family and Afzal was co-accused in both of them.

Earlier, in February, the Lokyukta had recommended a CBI or ED probe against Siddiqui and his wife and BSP MLC Husna Siddiqui for having disproportionate assets in Lucknow and Barabanki on the other complaint lodged by Jagdish Narain Shukla, accusing the former minister and his wife of owning benami properties.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Disproportionate-assets-Vigilance-probe-ordered-against-Mawayati-aide/Article1-933160.aspx
Disproportionate assets: Vigilance probe ordered against Mawayati aide
Uttar Pradesh government has ordered vigilance inquiry against former minister and close Mayawati aide, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, on lokayukta's recommendation in a disproportionate assets case.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday ordered a vigilance inquiry 
against Sidduqui, official sources here said today.
Lokayukta NK Mehrotra on the complaint of Ashish Sagar Dixit against Siddiqui and his son Afzal Siddiqui had last month recommended a probe by CBI or ED after finding the charges of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income in their home district Banda.
There were two separate complaints against Siddiqui and his family and Afzal was co-accused in both of them.
Earlier, in February, the Lokyukta had recommended a CBI or ED probe against Siddiqui and his wife and BSP MLC Husna Siddiqui for having disproportionate assets in Lucknow and Barabanki on the other complaint lodged by Jagdish Narain Shukla, accusing the former minister and his wife of owning benami properties.

Vigilance probe ordered against Mayawati aide

http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/vigilance-probe-ordered-against-mayawati-aide_800803.html
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh government has ordered vigilance inquiry against former minister and close Mayawati aide, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, on Lokayukta's recommendation in a disproportionate assets case. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday ordered a vigilance inquiry against Sidduqui, official sources here said today. 

Lokayukta NK Mehrotra on the complaint of Ashish Sagar Dixit against Siddiqui and his son Afzal Siddiqui had last month recommended a probe by CBI or ED after finding the charges of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income in their home district Banda. 

There were two separate complaints against Siddiqui and his family and Afzal was co-accused in both of them. 

Earlier, in February, the Lokyukta had recommended a CBI or ED probe against Siddiqui and his wife and BSP MLC Husna Siddiqui for having disproportionate assets in Lucknow and Barabanki on the other complaint lodged by Jagdish Narain Shukla, accusing the former minister and his wife of owning benami properties.