ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES TO FOCUS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN
It has now been decided
to set up a Task Force in the Ministry of Environment & Forests
to guide and oversee programmes and activities relating to environmental
health. This was decided at a review meeting taken by the Union
Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. T.R.Baalu here.
Mr. Baalu expressed
concern at the health risk posed to human beings especially to
women and children in their work places e.g., printing presses,
bidi rolling units and match box and fire cracker factories. It
was decided that in the first phase, women and children exposed
to environmental pollution will be covered in the environmental
health programme.
In the last few of
years, Ministry of Environment and Forests has conducted several
studies in various industrial towns of the country. In future
however, the studies will be more focused to find out the cause
and effect relationship between environment and state of health
in specific areas. Health risk studies on indoor pollution especially
covering women and children should be taken up. The findings from
earlier studies will be utilized in implementing action plans.
An Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee may be set up for
periodic interaction with the stakeholders and also to develop
a national initiative on the subject. It was also decided that
a study of the American model for establishing a National Institute
for Environmental Health in India will be conducted. The scope
of the study will include developing centers of excellence on
environmental health.
It was decided that
environmental awareness campaigns dedicated to women and children’s
health will be undertaken through mass media, especially, television
channels. Films on environmental awareness will also be produced
and shown in Eco-Clubs throughout the country.
