Expansion of 'Asha Kiran' Scheme in Bengaluru
- The ‘Asha Kiran’ scheme, which provides free eye check-ups, surgeries, and spectacles, has been approved by the Cabinet meeting.
- The scheme has been implemented in Chikka- Ballapur, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Raichur, Uttara Kannada, and Mandya districts.
- The project will be started in the remaining 22 districts.
- The scheme has been approved for a grant of Rs.53.18 crore to Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust for recruitment of Arogya Mitra and staff for a period of 2 years on outsourcing.
- The scheme has been expanded to include lung, heart, and bone marrow transplants.
• The proposal to provide CT scan, MRI scan service in PPP model in district public hospitals of Health and Family Welfare Department is free for BPL card holders.
State OKs 632sqkm Eco-Sensitive Zone Around Bhadra Sanctuary
- The state government in Bengaluru has approved the declaration of an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, a sanctuary that was not notified in 1998.
- The ESZ is located in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts, a distance of 632sqkm from the sanctuary’s core area.
- The ESZ includes 123 villages, with the sanctuary spread over 500sqkm.
- The ESZ boundary from the sanctuary’s core area ranges from 1km to 10km.
- The decision was prompted by opposition from the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC) and state level discussions to ensure the protection of nature and villagers’ livelihoods.
• Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre clarified that no farmers will be impacted by the ESZ.
