|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | {| Class="wikitable" | + | {| class="wikitable" |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |colspan="0"|<div style="font-size:100%"> | | |colspan="0"|<div style="font-size:100%"> |
| | This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.<br/> | | This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.<br/> |
| | + | Additional information may please be sent as messages to the Facebook <br/>community, [http://www.facebook.com/Indpaedia Indpaedia.com]. All information used will be gratefully <br/>acknowledged in your name. |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | |} | | |} |
| Line 8: |
Line 9: |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| − | =Deaths due to Encephalitis= | + | =The Battle of Basantar/ Lt. General Hanut Singh= |
| − | ==2014==
| + | |
| − | ''' Encephalitis claims 1,495 lives in 2014 '''
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Encephalitis-claims-1495-lives-in-2014-23122014012025 ''The Times of India''] | + | [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-indian-commander-whose-regiments-bravery-was-even-honoured-by-the-enemy/articleshow/79779583.cms Parul Kulshrestha, December 18, 2020: ''The Times of India''] |
| | + | [[File: Lt. General Hanut Singh.jpg|Lt. General Hanut Singh <br/> From: [[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-indian-commander-whose-regiments-bravery-was-even-honoured-by-the-enemy/articleshow/79779583.cms Parul Kulshrestha, December 18, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]] |
| | | | |
| − | Dec 23 2014 | + | [[File: SWEET VICTORY- (L to R) Daffadar Kushal Singh tank gun loader and radio operator; Daffadar Harjinderpal Singh tank driver; Lt Col Hanut Singh, Commandant The Poona Horse; Daffadar Dalip Singh tank gunner.jpg|SWEET VICTORY: (L to R) Daffadar Kushal Singh tank gun loader and radio operator; Daffadar Harjinderpal Singh tank driver; Lt Col Hanut Singh, Commandant The Poona Horse; Daffadar Dalip Singh tank gunner Photo was taken on the day after the cease fire on Dec 17, 1971 <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-indian-commander-whose-regiments-bravery-was-even-honoured-by-the-enemy/articleshow/79779583.cms Parul Kulshrestha, December 18, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]] |
| | | | |
| | + | [[File: Lt Gen Hanut Singh- The leader whose cool courage inspired his men to remain steadfast and perform commendable acts of gallantry.jpg|Lt Gen Hanut Singh: The leader whose cool courage inspired his men to remain steadfast and perform commendable acts of gallantry <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-indian-commander-whose-regiments-bravery-was-even-honoured-by-the-enemy/articleshow/79779583.cms Parul Kulshrestha, December 18, 2020: ''The Times of India''] |frame|500px]] |
| | | | |
| − | The Centre admitted that efforts to control encephalitis had not been able to contain the high death toll even as BJP members in the Lok Sabha accused the state government of indifference.
| + | [[File: Commemoration of beginning of year-long celebrations of victory of 1971 war against Pakistan at Lt Gen Hanut Singh ji war memorial at Jasol, Rajasthan.jpg|Commemoration of beginning of year-long celebrations of victory of 1971 war against Pakistan at Lt Gen Hanut Singh ji war memorial at Jasol, Rajasthan <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-indian-commander-whose-regiments-bravery-was-even-honoured-by-the-enemy/articleshow/79779583.cms Parul Kulshrestha, December 18, 2020: ''The Times of India''] |frame|500px]] |
| − | In his calling attention motion in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Yogi Adityanath pointed out that more children have died of encephalitis in a year than in the terrorist attack on the Peshawar school recently .About 1,495 people, mostly children, have died so far this year.
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | To increase efficacy of its drive against `brain fever', which has been rather severe in parts of eastern UP and Bihar, health minister J P Nadda said the Centre will also involve MPs, MLAs and local bodies. “Despite our policies and funding, results which should have come are not coming. We are alive to the sentiments expressed by members and committed to deal with the disease.“
| + | [[File: THE SAINT SOLDIER- After retirement Lt Gen Hanut Singh dedicated his life to books and meditation.jpg|THE SAINT SOLDIER: After retirement Lt Gen Hanut Singh dedicated his life to books and meditation <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-indian-commander-whose-regiments-bravery-was-even-honoured-by-the-enemy/articleshow/79779583.cms Parul Kulshrestha, December 18, 2020: ''The Times of India''] |frame|500px]] |
| | | | |
| − | ==Assam==
| + | JAIPUR: The name of Lt. General Hanut Singh resonates with bravery, integrity, fearlessness and compassion. Considered to be one of the greatest commanders of the Indian Army, Battle of Basantar in 1971 was Singh’s finest hour for which he was awarded with the Maha Vir Chakra. |
| − | ===2019====
| + | |
| − | [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/japanese-encephalitis-situation-grim-in-assam-toll-rises-to-49/articleshow/70104258.cms Prabin Kalita, Japanese Encephalitis: Situation grim in Assam, toll rises to 49, July 6, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
| + | |
| | | | |
| | + | Hanut Singh was born on July 6, 1933 at Jasol in Barmer. His father Col Arjun Singh had served in Jodhpur Lancers and commanded Kachhawa Horse. He was said to be a voracious reader and was very interested in Rajput history and tradition in which he took great pride. After passing out from the Indian Military Academy, Hanut was commissioned into The Poona Horse in 1952. |
| | | | |
| − | GUWAHATI: All districts in Assam, except Kokrajhar in western end of the state bordering West Bengal, are currently under the influence of Japanese Encephalitis (JE). The death toll due to JE has climbed to 49.
| + | Battle of Basantar is considered to be the fiercest tank battle in Indian military history. While the war was going on in the eastern front, India conducted operations in Shakargarh Bulge on the Western front. Shakargarh bulge in Punjab has always been a strategic area of importance for India as it threatened the road links between Jammu and Indian Punjab. Hence, it was crucial for India to secure the region. When the war broke out December 3, 1971 and by December 15, 1971 The Poona Horse under command of Lt Col Hanut Singh had reached the Basantar River and was tasked to cross the enemy anti tank minefield laid in the dry bed of the Basantar river. |
| | | | |
| − | All the district deputy commissioners have been alerted and directed to step up the surveillance activities in coordination with the panchayat and urban local bodies along with strengthening of diagnostics and case management.
| + | The Engineer Corps was given the task to clear the minefield, but till night, it was only partially done on account of the sandy river bed. Realising the gravity of the developing situation Hanut decided to move his regiment across the uncleared minefield on night of 15 December and after sometime, without any causality they were successful. |
| − | “Assam is currently undergoing a transmission season for Japanese Encephalitis with 190 reported positive cases of JE and 49 reported JE deaths till July 5,” health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | The state health department issued notification cancelling all types of leave for doctors, nurses and every personnel in the government health sector till September 30. “Only the deputy commissioner can allow leave in emergency cases,” Sarma said.
| + | Major General V K Singh, in his book ‘Leadership in the Indian Army’, describing the battle stated that after crossing the minefield Singh divided A, B and C squadrons in three different sectors in the bridgehead to take on the enemy counter attack. A fierce tank battle was fought on December 16 and 17. |
| | | | |
| − | “We have also issued directives that no doctors, nurses and health personnel shall remain out of the place of posting. Anyone found absent from his or her place of posting will be dealt with seriously. His or her unauthorized absence will be considered as criminal dereliction of duty and an FIR will lodged against him and her,” Sarma said.
| + | Hanut ordered his officers “Fight from wherever you are and no tank will move back even an inch.” |
| | | | |
| − | The health minister said that Assam is ecologically favourable region for the spread of Japanese Encephalitis due to heavy rainfall, large paddy fields with big water body, piggery farming or domestic pig rearing almost throughout the state, which support the virus propagation.
| + | His men, being immensely loyal to him, fought till their last breath. It was during this battle that Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal destroyed 10 enemy tanks before achieving martyrdom. During the action Khetrapal was asked by his superior to pull back and leave his tank which had caught fire to which he replied, “Didn’t you hear the CO’s transmission? No tank will pull back even an inch.” He was rewarded with the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for gallantry beyond the call of duty. He was 21 years of age. |
| | | | |
| − | He said that vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis through the routine immunization for children is currently going on regularly and adult vaccination was done in 20 districts during 2016-17 where the coverage was about 68%.
| + | Pakistan’s 13 Lancers and 31 Cavalry, equipped with Patton tanks lost 48 tanks in this action and were operationally crippled. The unprecedented bravery showed by The Poona Horse earned praise from Pakistan army as well that called the regiment ‘Fakhr-e-Hind’. |
| | + | The citation of Singh for the Maha Vir Chakra reads, “Undeterred by enemy medium artillery and tank fire, Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh moved from one threatened sector to another with utter disregard for his personal safety. His presence and cool courage inspired his men to remain steadfast and perform commendable acts of gallantry.” |
| | + | After a decade, in 1982, as a Major General, Hanut Singh was posted by Indian army MS Branch to command 17 Mountain Division in Sikkim. Just like today, Chinese were constantly intruding into Indian territory trying to pressurise and overawe the Indian troops deployed there. |
| | | | |
| − | “The situation in the state is under close watch and all preventive measures are being taken. Therefore to combat the situation, 12.8 lakhs blood slides have been collected by our fever surveillance network, 1094 effected villages have been covered through intensified fogging operations. Treatment and diagnostic cost at medical colleges and district hospitals are being borne by the state,” he said.
| + | Major General Hanut Singh took the matter into his own hands. He visited all the brigades in Sikkim where he held Sainik Sammelan. |
| | + | Retired Brigadier of The Poona Horse, Karan Singh Rathore who was also part of that sammelan recalls that they were given orders to open fire on Chinese after three warnings until they vacate Indian territory. “The senior officers present were ordered that if any of them became hesitant in firing which resulted in Indian casualties, he would court martial that person for cowardice,” said Rathore. The message was loud and clear to the Chinese that a new leader had arrived. |
| | | | |
| − | [[Category:Health|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | After retirement Hanut Singh shifted to Dehradun, dedicated his life to books and meditation. He passed away on April 11, 2015. |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:India|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | ==Bihar==
| + | [[Category:Defence|P |
| − | ===How encephalitis stalked Bihar===
| + | POONA HORSE]] |
| − | [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-the-deadly-encephalitis-stalked-bihar/articleshow/69900667.cms June 22, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
| + | [[Category:India|P |
| − | | + | POONA HORSE]] |
| − | [[File: AES cases, district-wise, January 3- June 19, 2019.jpg|AES cases, district-wise, January 3- June 19, 2019 <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-the-deadly-encephalitis-stalked-bihar/articleshow/69900667.cms June 22, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
| + | [[Category:Pages with broken file links|POONA HORSE]] |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[File: AES deaths, district-wise, January 3- June 19, 2019.jpg|AES deaths, district-wise, January 3- June 19, 2019 <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-the-deadly-encephalitis-stalked-bihar/articleshow/69900667.cms June 22, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[File: AES cases and deaths, age-wise.jpg|AES cases and deaths, age-wise <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-the-deadly-encephalitis-stalked-bihar/articleshow/69900667.cms June 22, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '''See graphics''':
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '' AES cases, district-wise, January 3- June 19, 2019 ''
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '' AES deaths, district-wise, January 3- June 19, 2019 ''
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '' AES cases and deaths, age-wise ''
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ====…and why====
| + | |
| − | [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F07%2F02&entity=Ar01400&sk=11A892BD&mode=text Neerja Chowdhury, July 2, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | The Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) deaths in Bihar – of over 150 children last month – bear tragic testimony to the state’s tattered public health system. For there can be nothing more shameful for any government – or society – than the death of a child whose life could have been saved.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | This is not the first time that AES has hit Bihar; it claimed 196 young lives in 2014. The government had formulated clear guidelines of dos and don’ts but obviously it became complacent, either because the number of deaths had abated in the last two years or because the entire government machinery was busy with Lok Sabha elections.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | The deaths in 23 districts were all the more shocking because Nitish Kumar, in power for 14 years, is one of the few chief ministers who has shown sensitivity to socioeconomic issues. Soon after he took over in 2015 he had announced the seven “Nishchays” of his government, which included access to higher education, toilets, drinking water, jobs for youth, electricity for every house.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | AES has struck the children of the poorer communities – the Dalits and Mahadalits, and those of the Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs) – the most. As irony would have it, it was Nitish Kumar who had fashioned his successful rainbow coalition around the empowerment of these very communities. There has hardly been any child hit by the disease who’s from the upper castes or middle classes.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | In Musahri block of Muzaffarpur district – which accounted for 453 out of 725 cases this year and just under 100 deaths – Chunchun Devi, who lost her 4-year-old daughter Raveena, looked stoic. The only emotion she betrayed was to say, “I don’t even have a photo of her.” She has received a cheque from the government for Rs 4 lakh as compensation but needs a PAN number to deposit it. The cheque is made out to her husband, the bank account is in her name. And they do not know how to acquire a PAN card!
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | I decided to go to AES affected Musahri block because it was here that Jayaprakash Narayan had worked in the early seventies, dissatisfied as he was with Vinoba Bhave’s “Bhoodan” movement to end poverty. It was during the JP movement soon thereafter for “sampoorna kranti” that many of those who have ruled Bihar in the last quarter century, including Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, cut their political teeth.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Four decades down the line the Musehars, who survive by killing rats, or the Ravidas community to which Chunchun Devi belongs, remain at the bottom of the socioeconomic heap.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Whatever be the trigger for AES (litchis, or mumps, or acute heat – research needs to be stepped up on this), it is malnourished children who become easy prey to the disease. Doctors in Muzaffarpur’s Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital confirmed that “80%” of the children brought to them were malnourished.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | This was not surprising since Chunchun Devi – thin, short, pale, looking no more than 20 herself, with a 7-month boy in her arms and two daughters, 8 and 6 standing by her side (apart from having lost 4-year-old Raveena) – was a reminder that nutrition was not just about the right kind of food, but also about grappling with early marriage, frequent pregnancies, anaemia and mother’s nutrition.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | What did surprise was that Bihar still has no clear nutrition policy, when there is a proactive National Nutrition Mission in place, launched by the PM last year.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | The state also reels from a paucity of doctors and nurses, and the perennial problem of their not wanting to work in rural areas. There are a large number of vacancies waiting to be filled up, with 3,679 regular and contractual doctors against a sanctioned strength of 9,563. Surely it should not be impossible to motivate graduating medicos to give two years working in rural areas as their “give back”? Then of course the primary health centres, 533 of them, await modernisation; the district labs upgradation to test for infectious diseases; and HR data to be digitised.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | How about an 8th “Nishchay” by Nitish Kumar – to ensure healthcare and nutrition to every child? How about a nutrition mission in Bihar, directly under the chief minister’s supervision, which would give the issue primacy and make coordination between ministries easier? After all Bihar did manage to reduce neo-natal mortality, still-birth deaths, and increased routine immunisation.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[Category:Health|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA | + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:India|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA | + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[Category:Health|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:India|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:Pages with broken file links|ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA | + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | === Muzaffarpur===
| + | |
| − | ====2009-19====
| + | |
| − | [[File: The death toll from Encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, 2009-19.jpg| The death toll from Encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, 2009-19 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F06%2F18&entity=Ar00318&sk=306C66F9&mode=text Piyush Tripathi & Ajay Kumar Pandey, June 18, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '''See graphic''':
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '' The death toll from Encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, 2009-19 ''
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ==Uttar Pradesh==
| + | |
| − | ===2017> 18: a success story===
| + | |
| − | [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F06%2F23&entity=Ar01617&sk=7A09886A&mode=text Sushmi Dey, June 23, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | While Bihar struggles to contain acute encephalitis syndrome, the eastern part of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, which has also been a problem area, has seen a significant improvement with an over 67% drop in deaths due to the disease in 14 most-affected districts.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome were major health challenges in eastern UP and poor health infrastructure proved to a serious handicap for the Yogi Adityanath government in 2017 when a spate of child deaths — not all related to the disease — rocked BRD medical college in August, 2017.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | More than 500 children died that year in Gorakhpur and its neighbourhood with as many as 14 districts of the region in the grip of encephalitis. The state government launched Action Plan 2018 with a multi-pronged approach in collaboration with the WHO and Unicef to tackle the encephalitis menace.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | In 2018, deaths due to AES dropped to 166 from 511 in 2017. The number of encephalitis cases reported in 14 districts of eastern UP also dropped from 2,247 in 2,017 to 1,047 cases last year. In 2019 so far, 20 deaths have been recorded from 82 cases, according to UP government data.
| + | |
| − | “The government worked on a plan and the results are for everyone to see,” says K K Gupta, director general of medical education and training in UP government. He said several measures included intensive vaccination and sanitation campaigns, improvements in health infrastructure and health resources (addition in beds and creation of more positions of nurses and paramedics apart from doctors.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Public health experts working in the region say Uttar Pradesh laid a lot of emphasis on early diagnosis and providing immediate care. In 2017, the UP government started a campaign against the disease involving multiple stakeholders. As a result, the outbreak of disease itself has decreased considerably in the last two years.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[Category:Health|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:India|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | =Socio-economic profile of the affected=
| + | |
| − | ==Bihar, 2019==
| + | |
| − | [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F06%2F24&entity=Ar00107&sk=5F9AD434&mode=text Rema Nagarajan, June 24, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[File: A Socio-economic profile of those affected by AES in Bihar, 2019 .jpg|A Socio-economic profile of those affected by AES in Bihar, 2019 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F06%2F24&entity=Ar00107&sk=5F9AD434&mode=text Rema Nagarajan, June 24, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | A social audit of families of children admitted with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) conducted by the Bihar government reveals just how poor they are. More than three-fourths of those surveyed would fall below the poverty line (BPL). The audit data accessed by TOI is for 287 of the families of children with AES reported till now.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | The average annual household income of the families surveyed was a little over Rs 53,500 or about Rs 4,465 per month. The Rangarajan Committee had defined the poverty line in rural Bihar in 2011-2012 as a per capita monthly income of Rs 971. For an average family of five persons, this works out to Rs 4,855 per month. Even adding a very modest 2% annual inflation for the eight years since then would take that figure to Rs 1,138 today or about Rs 5,700 for a family of five people.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Over 77% of the families surveyed earned less than this and a large number of them had 6-9 family members or more.
| + | |
| − | There were families that reported an annual income of as little as Rs 10,000 and the most well-off among those covered by the audit had an annual income of under Rs 1.6 lakh. Approximately 82% (235) of the households surveyed earned a living by working as labourers.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ''' AES OUTBREAK '''
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Audit: In 3/4th of cases, elders unaware of AES, PHC treatment
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | About a third of the families had no ration card and about a sixth of those who did have one had not received any rations the previous month. In 200 of the 287 cases surveyed (about 70%), the families said their children had played outside in the sun before being taken ill with AES. And 61 of the children had eaten nothing the night before they fell sick.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Roughly two-thirds of the families, 191, live in kutcha houses. Yet, only 102 had benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Though 87% had access to drinking water, almost 60% did not have a toilet. Though the government claims to have provided ambulance services, 84% of the families did not use the service for taking the children to the hospital and in almost all these cases, they were not aware of it.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | About 64% of the households were from areas surrounding litchi orchards and a similar proportion said the child who fell ill had eaten litchi. Surprisingly, in threefourths of the cases, the elders were not aware of chamki bukhar or AES nor were they aware that treatment for it was available at the primary health centre (PHC).
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Only a quarter of the cases were referred to the primary health centre for treatment. This is not surprising, as in most AES cases, the symptoms surface in the early hours when most primary health centres are closed apart from the fact that many of them are severely understaffed.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | =See also=
| + | |
| − | [[Muzaffarpur (after 1947)]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[Category:Health|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:India|EENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIAENCEPHALITIS: INDIA
| + | |
| − | ENCEPHALITIS: INDIA]]
| + | |
JAIPUR: The name of Lt. General Hanut Singh resonates with bravery, integrity, fearlessness and compassion. Considered to be one of the greatest commanders of the Indian Army, Battle of Basantar in 1971 was Singh’s finest hour for which he was awarded with the Maha Vir Chakra.
Hanut Singh was born on July 6, 1933 at Jasol in Barmer. His father Col Arjun Singh had served in Jodhpur Lancers and commanded Kachhawa Horse. He was said to be a voracious reader and was very interested in Rajput history and tradition in which he took great pride. After passing out from the Indian Military Academy, Hanut was commissioned into The Poona Horse in 1952.
Battle of Basantar is considered to be the fiercest tank battle in Indian military history. While the war was going on in the eastern front, India conducted operations in Shakargarh Bulge on the Western front. Shakargarh bulge in Punjab has always been a strategic area of importance for India as it threatened the road links between Jammu and Indian Punjab. Hence, it was crucial for India to secure the region. When the war broke out December 3, 1971 and by December 15, 1971 The Poona Horse under command of Lt Col Hanut Singh had reached the Basantar River and was tasked to cross the enemy anti tank minefield laid in the dry bed of the Basantar river.
The Engineer Corps was given the task to clear the minefield, but till night, it was only partially done on account of the sandy river bed. Realising the gravity of the developing situation Hanut decided to move his regiment across the uncleared minefield on night of 15 December and after sometime, without any causality they were successful.
Major General V K Singh, in his book ‘Leadership in the Indian Army’, describing the battle stated that after crossing the minefield Singh divided A, B and C squadrons in three different sectors in the bridgehead to take on the enemy counter attack. A fierce tank battle was fought on December 16 and 17.
Hanut ordered his officers “Fight from wherever you are and no tank will move back even an inch.”
His men, being immensely loyal to him, fought till their last breath. It was during this battle that Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal destroyed 10 enemy tanks before achieving martyrdom. During the action Khetrapal was asked by his superior to pull back and leave his tank which had caught fire to which he replied, “Didn’t you hear the CO’s transmission? No tank will pull back even an inch.” He was rewarded with the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for gallantry beyond the call of duty. He was 21 years of age.
Pakistan’s 13 Lancers and 31 Cavalry, equipped with Patton tanks lost 48 tanks in this action and were operationally crippled. The unprecedented bravery showed by The Poona Horse earned praise from Pakistan army as well that called the regiment ‘Fakhr-e-Hind’.
The citation of Singh for the Maha Vir Chakra reads, “Undeterred by enemy medium artillery and tank fire, Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh moved from one threatened sector to another with utter disregard for his personal safety. His presence and cool courage inspired his men to remain steadfast and perform commendable acts of gallantry.”
After a decade, in 1982, as a Major General, Hanut Singh was posted by Indian army MS Branch to command 17 Mountain Division in Sikkim. Just like today, Chinese were constantly intruding into Indian territory trying to pressurise and overawe the Indian troops deployed there.
Major General Hanut Singh took the matter into his own hands. He visited all the brigades in Sikkim where he held Sainik Sammelan.
Retired Brigadier of The Poona Horse, Karan Singh Rathore who was also part of that sammelan recalls that they were given orders to open fire on Chinese after three warnings until they vacate Indian territory. “The senior officers present were ordered that if any of them became hesitant in firing which resulted in Indian casualties, he would court martial that person for cowardice,” said Rathore. The message was loud and clear to the Chinese that a new leader had arrived.
After retirement Hanut Singh shifted to Dehradun, dedicated his life to books and meditation. He passed away on April 11, 2015.
_Daffadar_Kushal_Singh_tank_gun_loader_and_radio_operator;_Daffadar_Harjinderpal_Singh_tank_driver;_Lt_Col_Hanut_Singh,_Commandant_The_Poona_Horse;_Daffadar_Dalip_Singh_tank_gunner.jpg)
