Addressing the plenary meeting

The intellectual property rights regime is both an opportunity as well as a challenge before the member states: Dr. Ramadoss

Addressing the plenary meeting of the 60^th World Health Assembly in Geneva on 16^th May, 2007, the Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) needs to develop the capacities of many countries to participate in the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime and reap its benefits.  He said there are valid reservations on whether or not the IPR regime will lead to innovations in so far as neglected and tropical diseases are concerned. Ms Jane Halton, President, World Health Assembly and Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO were also present on the occasion.

            The following is the text of the Minister’s speech:

It is indeed a pleasure for me to address the WHA once again.  Last year I also had the privilege of chairing the proceedings of Committee-A.  This provided me with a deep insight into the wide gamut of issues placed before the World Health Assembly.  While it was no doubt enlightening for me to participate in these deliberations I cannot but help suggesting that WHO needs to progressively assume a more proactive role on global health issues rather than on advocating remedial measures after events have taken place.   In particular WHO can be a bridge between developed and developing countries on issues relating to human resources, technology transfers, building consensus as well as capacities on emerging issues such as Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health.  There is also a case  for a fresh look on the representation of developing countries like India and China on different WHO fora considering their population size and share of global disease burden.

The theme adopted by the 60^th WHA, “Health Security” is of great interest to all of us.  The global threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases has been demonstrated by the emergence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the 1980s, Avian Influenza H5N1 in Hong Kong originally seen in 1997 and continuing through today and a global epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003.   No country is immune to the occurrence of these diseases.    It is therefore altogether appropriate for the WHA to focus on health security.  

Development issues including health, nutrition, drinking water, education are today at the forefront of world politics.   Health, as we all know is fundamental to social and economic development. The Millennium Development Goals 2015 are less than a decade away and most countries are feeling the pressure from all stakeholders to design policies which accelerate the achievement of the goals as per schedule.

In India, the state supported public health delivery system is being comprehensively rejuvenated under the National Rural Health Mission which is the biggest and most ambitious programme in the health sector ever in India.  The National Rural Health Mission which is a convergence of health, nutrition, sanitation and drinking water, seeks to provide accessible, affordable and accountable quality health services specially to the poorest households in the remotest rural regions, focusing on reducing IMR and MMR. The thrust of NRHM  is on establishing a fully functional, community owned, decentralized health delivery system with inter sectoral convergence at all levels.  Quality care through adoption of the Indian Public Health Standards, focus on outcomes and adoption of evidence based strategies are some of the other salient features of NRHM.

           

We realize the need to target programmes for our women and children.  We are going for major capacity building initiatives both for human and physical resources to ensure nutritional adequacy, deliveries at institutions and by skilled birth attendants, referral transport and emergency obstetric care.  The Janani Suraksha Yojana, a path breaking programme for cash support for institutional deliveries, has had an overwhelming response.

         Newborn and child health strategies range from the integrated management of neonatal and childhood illnesses, immunisation strategies, including this year, a US$300 million polio eradication programme and the recently launched Norway-India partnership initiative.

         We have more than 400,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) who are empowered village women forming a link between the government and our clients for better service delivery.

The double burden of diseases experienced by a large number of low and middle income countries of the world has made it necessary for these countries to initiate mechanisms for effective prevention and control mechanisms. 

The initiatives taken by us in addressing communicable diseases have given dividends. The progress made by the various national programs for control and elimination of TB, Malaria, Leprosy, HIV/AIDS are noteworthy.

A national program for prevention and control of Non Communicable Diseases like Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and stroke has been initiated.  Taking care of the elderly population, a national programme for the care of elderly is also on the anvil.  Issues of emergency and trauma care are being taken as priority areas. 

The consumption of tobacco is also a major cause of morbidity.   The global community is slowly recognizing the threat of the tobacco epidemic and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is an important step in this direction.    India, one of the first signatories of the FCTC, is in the process of launching a National programme on Tobacco Control.  An anti-tobacco law was enacted as far back as 2003 and rules have been enacted banning smoking in public places; direct and indirect advertisements and sale of tobacco products to minors.  India is a key participant in the WHO supported Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) and we are actively engaged in developing surveillance systems, building capacities of key stakeholders, undertaking advocacy measures and intensifying training programmes to combat consumption of tobacco.  A Tobacco Regulatory Authority is on the anvil which will make recommendations on tobacco taxation policy, advertising, anti-smuggling measures, enforcement of the Act as well as on other measures both for disease prevention as well as prevalence reduction.

I believe that in the new Millennium the future of the health sector is going to be in substantial measure determined by the quality and availability of human resources; the spirit of innovation and enterprise, which alone will find cost effective solutions to seemingly intractable problems and by technological advancements in information technology as well as biotechnology.   There are issues relating to migration of qualified health work force, which are leaving gaps within the exiting infrastructure and services, both within and outside the public sector.    

The WHO needs to help the affected countries to address contributing factors to human resource shortages.  The Intellectual Property Rights regime is both an opportunity as well as a challenge before the Member States.   There are valid reservations on whether or not the IPR regime will lead to innovations in so far as neglected and tropical diseases are concerned.  Similarly access and pricing of essential drugs is indeed a matter of concern.    The WHO   will need to   develop the capacities of many countries to participate in the IPR regime and reap its benefits.   Finally technology and technological advancements cannot be wished away and must in fact be relied upon to provide solutions to improve health care systems, both technical as well as managerial.   From some perspective I can say that if the Information Technology Industry was responsible for the present growth of India, then the future of India lies in the growth of the bio-medical industry.  The WHO needs to position itself as the harbinger of technology to nations.    (PIB)                                  17-May-2007 16:38 IST

Punjab to levy property tax, up electricity duty

Ruchika M. Khanna/TNS

Chandigarh, June 22
Soon after a tax-free Budget, the Punjab Government is set to impose three new taxes to reduce the state’s massive Rs 6,838 revenue deficit. The state must bring down its deficit by 100 per cent to Rs 3,123 crore for an Rs 1,482 crore grant from the 13th Finance Commission.
The state government will soon tax mobile phone operators for installing towers while the common man could have to pay enhanced electricity duty and property tax.
Though the final call would be taken after a meeting of the SAD and BJP, government sources said the exercise to impose the levies had begun.
The Punjab Government hopes to rake in Rs 100 crore by taxing cellphone operators Rs 1 lakh a year for each tower they erect in the state. There are an estimated 10,000 mobile towers in the state.
The state would generate an additional Rs 140 crore by increasing electricity duty from the present 13 per cent to 17 per cent. Currently, Punjab earns Rs 1,400 crore every year as electricity duty.
Property tax is proposed to be imposed on the Haryana pattern. This is essential to fulfill the criteria for getting grants under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Haryana has imposed property tax of Re 1 per square yard on houses up to 250 square yards and offers a 50 per cent concession to owners of self- occupied property.
Imposition of property tax will help urban local bodies become financially self-reliant. The 10 per cent of VAT collections given to local bodies will then be available with the state government for carrying out other development activities.
{Courtesy:The Tribune (June 23, 2012)}_

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressing

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressing at the inauguration of “A workshop to review Implementation of the Global Tiger Recovery Program”, in New Delhi on May 15, 2012. (PIB photo)   15-May-2012

Land Scam Cases

Courtesy photo

CBI has registered one case in a land scam in Pune against a retired Army Officer in which Lt. Gen (Retd) N. Thamburaj has been named as an accused.

CBI has registered one Preliminary Enquiry i.e. P.E.1 (A)/2012/ACB/Mum dated 12.1.2012 in respect of fraudulent sale of defence land at Kandivali, Mumbai.

Information with regard to details of defence land under encroachment is with the concerned land owning agencies of Ministry of Defence which are required to take appropriate action when required.

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri A K Antony in a written reply to Shri Sushil Kumar Singh and others in Lok Sabha today.   (PIB)     14-May-2012 14:53 IST  

Women's property rights

Courtesy photo

According to The Indian Succession Act, 1925, everyone is entitled to equal inheritance, except Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Muslims. Under this act, the daughter of a person dying intestate would be entitled only to one-fourth of the son’s share, or Rs. 5,000/- (Sthree Dhana), whichever is lesser.
To actually achieve equal inheritance to all, the laws will have to be amended. In regard to succession to property among Hindus, the right by birth should be abolished and the Mitakshara coparcenary should be converted into Dayabhaga, that means equal distribution of not only separate or self acquired properties of the diseased male, but also of undivided interests in coparcenary property. Daughter of a coparcener in a Hindu joint family governed by Mitakshara Law to be coparcener by birth in her own right in the same manner as a son; to have right of claim by survivorship and to have same liabilities and disabilities as a son; coparcenary property to be divided and allotted in equal share.

Daughter of a coparcener in a Hindu joint family governed by Mitakshara Law to be coparcener by birth in her own right in the same manner as her son; to have right of claim by survivorship and to have same liabilities and disabilities as a son; coparcenary property to be divided and allotted in equal share.
However, to actually achieve equal inheritance to all, the laws will have to be amended. In regard to succession to property among Hindus, the right by birth should be abolished and the Mitakshara coparcenary should be converted into Dayabhaga; that means equal distribution of not only separate or self acquired properties of the diseased male, but also of undivided interests in coparcenary property. In the view of such recommendations by NGOs and governmental organizations over the time, The Rajya Sabha on August 16, 2005, passed the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Bill, 2004, giving daughters and sons equal rights to property. According to this bill, any woman, irrespective of the marital status, has full right to inherit ancestral property just like a son of the family.
This bill, if approved, looks forward to completely abolishing the Hindu Succession Act 1956 by giving equal rights to daughters in the 'Hindu Mitakshara Coparcenary property', as sons have.

If however, any of the parents have built some property and have made a will of their own, this law would be ineffective. This law would stipulate a new, comprehensive and fair system of inheritance. The bill is yet to be passed. The country, apart from the laws, will have to change its attitude, its mindset, to come of this issue of inheritance.
Women empowerment, equal rights to both men and women, equal share of property, etc., are some of the issues one can find everyday, in newspaper and on television. The reality is that these issues are still issues. Not much has actually been done to create equality between the male and female gender. The male still dominates society.

If it’s a matter of property, then legally male dominates the society. There are numerous laws that say that there should be no discrimination between the sexes, but in reality none are effective enough to actually bring about a revolution; a change in society.

The Hindu Enactment Act, 1956, established that women have equal inheritance rights, as men; and it abolished life estate of female heirs. However, this law could not do the needful as there was another law, the Mitakshara coparcenary that overruled the previous law.

According to Mitakshara coparcenary, in a joint family, a daughter will get a small share of property compared to the son. While the father’s property is shared equally between brother and sister; the brother, in addition, is entitled to a share in the coparcenary from which the sister is excluded. If the family owned a dwelling house, the daughter’s right is confined only to the right of residence and not possession or ownership.

The Hindu Succession [Andhra Pradesh] Amendment Act, 1985, made a remarkable development. This law stated that the rights of the daughter are equal to that of the son, in any circumstances. This law found the Mitakshara system is in violation of the fundamental right of equality. The States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala have also amended the law by including women as members of the coparcenary. This law is not applicable in the whole country.(Courtesy: Properties.in)