Nagpur: The state cabinet meeting held in Mumbai on Tuesday gave a go-ahead to setting up of a
regional geriatrics centre at the Government Medical College and Hospital in the city. It will be established with the Central government assistance under the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE).
The state cabinet gave its approval for signing a MoU with Union government for the centre which will be located in GMCH. While the central aid under NPHCE will be 60%, the remaining 40% is to be chipped in by the state. The directorate of medical education and research has been authorized to sign the necessary agreement. The necessary staff will be provided in the next three years.
The cabinet note stressed on the lifestyle changes and general rise in life expectancy leading to a sizeable increase in population of the old people needing special care. A centre dedicated to health needs of ailing old is need of the hour, it stated.
Panjabrao Deshmukh Mission: The cabinet also gave approval to establishing Panjabrao Deshmukh organic farming mission. The Mission will be operational first in the six distressed districts of Vidarhha -Buldhana, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Amravati and Wardha reeling under farmer suicide crisis.
It was noted that indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers was killing natural micro-nutrients and rendering in soil toxicity and infertility. Besides the farm produce was laced with chemicals that harmed human health. Increasing use of costly chemicals was also raising input costs, trimming farmer’s income.
The mission will not only promote organic and zero chemical farming but also cater to marketing aspect of the niche products that are in good demand already. The state budget has already earmarked Rs100 crore for organic farm promotion measures.
Seed promotion scheme: In order to encourage farmers engaged in producing certified, quality seeds that are then procured by Akola-based Maharashtra Seeds Corporation (Mahabeej) and Pune’s National Seeds Corporation, the state cabinet has given its nod to a new scheme. Under the scheme, these farmers will be paid the difference between the MSP and the APMC administered prices for seeds. This will ensure that the certified seed growing farmers do not suffer financial losses. The scheme will have retrospective effect from seeds procured for current kharif season.
