State, Centre to sign pact for Jan Aushadhi centres

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said on Monday that the Union government was planning to start Jan Aushadhi centres across the country.

The Centre has asked the state government to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with it to have such centres in all government hospitals in the State, Kumar said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the new hospital building of the Kalabhairaveshwara Ayurvedic College and Hospital of the Adichunchanagiri Education Trust here.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the State government will eventually sign the MoU to have the Jan Aushadhi centres in the State. He said that they are also in talks with the union minister to set up fertilisers and pharmaceutical companies in the State. The Kalabhairaveshwara Ayurvedic College and Hospital is a 250-bed facility, which includes 12 OPDs and is equipped with all necessary medical requirements. 

Policeman falls

At the event, a police personnel fell down after he tripped on a manhole above the road level that was carpeted for the event. There are several places in the City where the manhole lids are either above or below the road level, causing inconvenience to motorists.

T Venkataraju, engineer-in-chief of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, said that the Board has to keep the manhole level at least 10-15 cm above the road level, so as to identify it. If the level is much more than required and if there is a complaint, the Board will ensure that the height is reduced, he said.