MADURAI: Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar flagged off the pan- India 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' cycle rally at Gandhi Memorial Museum here on Sunday.
Addressing the media, he said that there is no outbreak of dengue in Tamil Nadu, stating that there are only sporadic cases of dengue infection across the State.
Marking the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) kick-started Swasth Bharat Yatra, a pan-India cycle rally that was flagged off simultaneously in Leh, Agartala, Ranchi, Panaji, Thiruvananthapuram and Puducherry on October 16 (World Food Day), thus launching the 'eat right movement'.
Stressing on the need for food safety and healthy diet, the rally travels to 2,000 locations across the country in 100 days, making pit stops in towns and cities for another convoy of cyclists to take over, is to culminate in New Delhi on January 27 next year.
The cyclists from Virudhunagar district converged in Madurai on Saturday.
On Sunday, during a grand function organised at Gandhi Memorial Museum, C Vijaya Baskar flagged off the cycle rally in which school students took part.
He cycled alongside Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar, Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration P Amudha, District Collector S Natarajan, Corporation Commissioner Aneesh Sekhar, stressing on 'low salt, low fat, low sugar', as part of the 'eat right movement'.
Addressing the media, Vijaya Baskar who earlier inspected the fever ward at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) said that there is no outbreak of dengue in Tamil Nadu, stating that there are only sporadic cases of dengue infection across the State.
Also, he told that there has been controllable cases of dengue this year unlike last year due to preventive measures.
The Minister also stated that there is no need to panic on reported swine flu cases which have occurred to persons with travel history to the swine flu-affected states and that 2 lakh vaccines were procured and being distributed and 20 lakh of the swine flu medicine 'Oseltamivir' are being distributed to those with high risk of exposure to the influenza.
Commenting on the progress of the setting up of AIIMS in Madurai, he said that the drafting of Detailed Project Report (DPR) is complete and that the cabinet note is expected to be moved this week.
He further stated that the super speciality block of GRH is likely to be inaugurated in a couple of weeks and is likely to be inaugurated by the Union Health Minister J P Nadda and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami next month. Following the events, the cycle rally proceeded to Dindigul district. Also present at the event were Designated Officer for department of food safety M Somasundaram and the Women Consumer Protection Association.
Suggested BoxWith the cycle rally having been planned to turn out into a pomp show by the department of food safety and drug administration, bringing in elephants and folk artists, little thought was given to make arrangements for the school students who assembled as early as 9.30 am for a shelter from heat.
The event kicked-off late at 2 pm while it was scheduled at 12 pm. This forced the children run hither and thither to take refuge from the scorching sun, under the shades of trees at the venue, with no alternative arrangements made by the organisers.