Pulse Polio Immunization Programme

President of India Launches Pulse Polio Immunization Programme

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee launched the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme by administering polio drops to children at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 17, 2015). The National Immunization Day is scheduled to be held on 18th January, 2015. Children of less than 5 years age will be given polio drops as part of the Government of India’s drive to sustain polio eradication from the region. India has been implementing the Pulse Polio Programme since 1995. In India, the last case of wild polio was reported on January 13, 2011. The South-East Asia region of WHO has been certified on March 27, 2014 as ‘polio free’, meaning that transmission of wild poliovirus has been interrupted in this block of 11 countries including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste for the last three years. India is mindful of the risks that persist, both on account of indigenous transmission and importation. The risk of importation of wild polio virus from these countries with persistent ongoing transmission still persists and therefore high level of immunity in the population needs to be maintained. The Government of India, therefore, continues to vaccinate children with polio vaccine on the occasion of National Immunization Day (NID) and Sub-NID. Ministry of Water Resources to celebrate 2015-16 as Jal Kranti Varsh The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ms Uma Bharati today said that the Year 2015-16 will be celebrated as ‘Jal Kranti Varsh (Year)’ across the country. Delivering the valedictory address at the 3rd India Water Week here, she said the programme will be celebrated in each district of the country and all efforts will be made to conserve and save water. She also informed that all the State Governments are on board in this noble mission. Referring to Prime Minister’s call for making Water Conservation a true Public Movement, She said, Centre and States should make joint efforts in this endeavour. Making a strong pitch for the revival of Yamuna, Ms Bharati said, inter-linking of rivers has achieved considerable progress and through Yamuna-Sharada link and Pancheswar project of Nepal, more water will flow in the Yamuna in the coming years. She said, Shri Narendra Modi during his Visit to Nepal in the middle of this year took the Pancheshwar issue with the highest authorities in Kathmandu. The Minister expressed confidence that by next year city of Mumbai will also get drinking water through linking of rivers. On Clean Ganga mission, She asserted that power mafia will be crushed and they will not be allowed to kill the holy river.