-The Hindu In the wake of references being made to investigate the health issues of mine workers, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) proposes to establish a statutory authority. Cancer, tuberculosis, silicosis, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and pulmonary function impairment such as asthma affect mine workers. The proposed authority will coordinate with the Ministries and authorities concerned for taking administrative, legal and medical action. The ICMR has approached the State governments for developing a...

-PTI Heavy rains and floods have so far claimed 31 lives in Madhya Pradesh prompting the state government to allocate Rs 12.47 crore additional funds for flood-affected 23 districts. Eight persons lost their lives in Hoshangabad district, followed by Bhopal where six people were killed due to rains and floods, an official release said here today. Three deaths each were reported from Ujjain and Dewas districts, two each in Damoh, Betul and Chhindwara,...

-The Hindu Scheme coming for free distribution of medicines through public hospitals and health centres The government will expand the scope of the NRHM to all towns and cities, by converting it into a National Health Mission (NHM), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced on Wednesday. In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort here, he said the government was also formulating a new scheme for distribution of free medicines...

-The Hindu It was exactly a year ago that The Hindu wrote about the plight of abandoned and destitute women, particularly widows, who take shelter in Vrindavan, prompting the National Legal Services Authorities (NALSA) to take action. It filed a social justice litigation before the Supreme Court for ameliorating the pitiable condition of these women and directing the District Legal Services Authority of Mathura to conduct a survey of these destitute...

-The Hindu The Left parties have decided to observe September 12 as Food Security Day across the country and their general secretaries will write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding amendments to the Food Security Bill. This was decided on the concluding day of the parties’ sit-in in support of a comprehensive Food Security Bill here on Friday. The the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the All...