TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PREVENTION AND CURE OF DISEASES TO COMMONMAN – SHRI NAQVI

    The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi called upon the Media to play a vital role in transferring the knowledge regarding prevention and cure of common diseases to the commonman for whom the mysteries of medicine and health care are daunting . Inaugurating a workshop on "Media and Medical Profession – Partners in Health Care" here today, Shri Naqvi said that for most person in the country with low literacy level and poor social awareness, the mechanism of the disease is so complex that even an effort to fathom it is seldom made. To achieve a breakthrough in the cognitive gap which extends between reality and its interpretation, the immense power of the Media can be tapped , said the Minister.

    The power of the Media can be used to attaining a common social goal in the area of health care and Media can play a better role in transmitting knowledge regarding prevention and cure of common disease by innovating deployment .

    Citing the role played by the Media and health care providers in making Pulse Polio Campaign a success, Shri Naqvi said that joint efforts when executed efficiently could render extra ordinary results .
 
 

SAFETY MEASURES IN RAILWAYS

    During the year 1997-98 there were 396 rail accidents and cost of damage was estimated at Rs.56.13 crore. In 1996-97 the number of accidents were 381 and damage cost was nearly Rs. 53.21 crore. But in 1995-96, 398 accidents occurred and the cost of damage was Rs.65.06 crore.

    To strengthen safety measures Indian Railways regularly spend money on modernisation works incorporating necessary upgradations. This work includes upgradation of signalling, track renewal/upgradation, bridge work, use of modern communication system, upgradation of rolling stock ,etc.

    During the last three years, Indian Railways have spent Rs.481.18 crore on signalling works, Rs.8.04 crore on providing walkie-talkie sets, Rs.245.3 crore on bridge work and Rs.4868 crore on track renewal. It has spent Rs.309.88 crore for design improvement and Rs.305.53 crore for maintenance of infrastructure.