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Rajya Sabha: MPs raised issues ranging from modernization of Anganwadi kitchens and establishment of Bhojpuri Sahitya Academy to the growing air pollution crisis during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Rajya Sabha: MPs raised issues ranging from modernization of Anganwadi kitchens and establishment of Bhojpuri Sahitya Academy to the growing air pollution crisis during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. BJP’s Rekha Sharma called for a national program to modernize Anganwadi nutrition kitchens, proposing upgrades including stainless steel utensils and food storage, hygienic counters, safe and clean drinking water units and exhaust systems for ventilation. Rekha Sharma said that the Anganwadi network is one of India’s proudest social welfare achievements. He said that there is a need for modernization of nutrition kitchens to meet today’s needs. Sharma stressed the importance of millet based nutrition menu. He urged states adopting this practice to follow the example of states already implementing it.
Pollution crisis declared a health emergency
He also called for integration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) for supply of nutritious food and strengthening of digital monitoring and development tracking systems in Anganwadis. BJP’s Kunwar Ratanjit Pratap Narayan demanded the establishment of a Central Bhojpuri Sahitya Academy in Kushinagar and Deoria districts of Uttar Pradesh. Referring to the operation of Bhojpuri academies in Delhi, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, he said that Uttar Pradesh, which is considered the stronghold of Bhojpuri language, has no such academy. Ayodhya Rami Reddy Allah (YSRCP) marked the growing air pollution crisis as a major public health emergency. Said that approximately one in seven residents of Delhi is at risk of premature death due to air pollution. He said deteriorating air quality was a direct cause of more than 17,000 deaths last year and the capital’s air quality index often remained in the severe category.
Issues raised during zero hour
Reddy highlighted a similar crisis in Visakhapatnam where PM10 levels have increased by 32.7 percent in the last seven years. He said that despite Rs 129.4 crore being allocated under the National Clean Air Program for Andhra Pradesh, only Rs 39.64 crore has been utilized, exposing serious lapses in monitoring, inter-departmental coordination and local enforcement. He said that India loses more than 3 percent of its GDP annually due to uncontrolled air pollution. He called for political will to deal with pollution. Said that this problem can be controlled with reliable data, activeness of the government and public awareness. Mamta Mohanta (BJP) and Karthikeya Sharma (IND) also raised issues during Zero Hour.
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