Bihar PHED minister Ashwani Choubey has directed officials to confirm excess fluoride content in water sources at Rampura village of Sighwara block in Darbhanga.
"Till date excess Fluoride was not detected Darbhnga. But I have asked officials to confirm the newpaper reports so that we can take appropriate steps," Choubey said pointing out that 12 districts of the state were afflicted by fluoride which causes fluorosis, a disease nicknamed by medical professionals as "bone crusher". Reported the detection of excess floride by a team of researchers.
Choubey conceded that fluoride and arsenic had been emerging as a major health problem in Bihar. "There are 13 districts in the state where arsenic poisioning have been detected and another 12 district where excess fluoride have been identified from the water source, There are three districts common in this list which have both arsenic and fluoride poisoning. They include Bhagalpur and Munger," he said. He pointed out that around 600 tolas and localities have been identified across the state which were identified as places where arsenic and floride were detected from the water source.
The minister claimed that the state government had mooted a Rs 1000- crore scheme for meeting the challenge. "It's a multi-village scheme in which tanks will be contructed and surface water will be supplied to the effected localities," he said. He said work has already started in Ara where 35 villages are hit due to arscenic, Vaishali and Patna(Maner). The three projects alone will cost over Rs 200 crore", he said.
He said the department had amlso mooted setting-up mini-plants for treatment of floride and arscenic water. "We will run these plants with solar power at places where there are no power", he stressed. He said in addtion to all these the department will install 2000 special tubewells which have mechanism to prevent fluoride and arsenic posioning",he remarked.
The minister claimed that the department had achieved about 60 per cent of its target in sinking 1.09 lakh tubewells across the state. He also spoke about the "Muktidham" Yojna of the state government aimed at making crematory ghats equiped with furnaces for burning bodies, shades, toilet, gardens and shops. He said that out of 50 such ghats selected, work was under progress in 21 of them and 15 would be copleted during this financial year. He, however, said that work was still to begin in many ghats because the land either belonged to private persons or the railways. link
Showing posts with label Bhagalpur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bhagalpur. Show all posts
Wednesday 16 December 2009
Thursday 24 September 2009
Security alert for Durga Puja in Bihar
High security alert has been sounded in Bihar ahead of Durga puja to ensure peace and harmony in communally sensitive areas of the state.
Patrolling has been intensified in communally sensitive areas. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have taken position in Patna and Bhagalpur, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani told reporters.
In more communally-sensitive areas, the RAF would stage flag march once in a day to instill confidence among the people, while extra security arrangements have been made to protect all vital installations, including properties of the Railways and Centre.
Besides, patrolling has also been intensified in communally-sensitive pockets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
Static deployment of Bihar Military Police and district armed police personnel has been made in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incident, he said.link
Patrolling has been intensified in communally sensitive areas. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have taken position in Patna and Bhagalpur, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani told reporters.
In more communally-sensitive areas, the RAF would stage flag march once in a day to instill confidence among the people, while extra security arrangements have been made to protect all vital installations, including properties of the Railways and Centre.
Besides, patrolling has also been intensified in communally-sensitive pockets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
Static deployment of Bihar Military Police and district armed police personnel has been made in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incident, he said.link
Friday 31 July 2009
Bihar curbs medicine that kills vultures
The Bihar government has decided to check the use of anti-inflammatory Diclofenac medicine in treatment of animals as the drug accumulates in the tissues of carcasses and is leading to the death of vultures.
Bihar Animal Resources and Fisheries Minister Ramanarayan Mandal said Friday: “I was told by experts that vultures suffer from renal failure and die after consuming the Diclofenac accumulated in the tissues of the dead animals.
“We have directed not to go for veterinary use of Diclofenac to save vultures and to help increase their numbers,” Mandal told.
The minister said that in May 2006 the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had asked all state drug controllers to phase out Diclofenac from the veterinary use within three months.
DCGI issued another circular in 2008 asking all state drug controllers to direct manufacturers of Diclofenac to label it “not for veterinary use”.
Despite the notes, rampant use of Diclofenac continued in Bihar.
Once a common site in the state, vultures have seen a steep decline in numbers in the last decade.
“Vultures are now spotted mainly in Bhagalpur, Supaul, Araria and Khagaria districts,” an animal resources department official said.link
Bihar Animal Resources and Fisheries Minister Ramanarayan Mandal said Friday: “I was told by experts that vultures suffer from renal failure and die after consuming the Diclofenac accumulated in the tissues of the dead animals.
“We have directed not to go for veterinary use of Diclofenac to save vultures and to help increase their numbers,” Mandal told.
The minister said that in May 2006 the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had asked all state drug controllers to phase out Diclofenac from the veterinary use within three months.
DCGI issued another circular in 2008 asking all state drug controllers to direct manufacturers of Diclofenac to label it “not for veterinary use”.
Despite the notes, rampant use of Diclofenac continued in Bihar.
Once a common site in the state, vultures have seen a steep decline in numbers in the last decade.
“Vultures are now spotted mainly in Bhagalpur, Supaul, Araria and Khagaria districts,” an animal resources department official said.link
Wednesday 29 July 2009
Govt gears up to promote Bihari food products
Chief minister Nitish Kumar has a dream that Bihari food products should find place on every dinning table of the country. This was stated by principal secretary of industry A K Sinha at the `International Summit-cum-Exhibition on Food Processing and Agribusiness' being held at New Delhi.
While interacting with the participants, Sinha said that the government has geared up to achieve that. He said that the industry department has so far undertaken five road shows in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Begusarai and Kolkata for highlighting the strong areas of food processing to different investors.
Sinha mentioned the new schemes launched by the Bihar government and stressed that the National Commission for Farmers has dubbed Bihar the `sleeping giant' of Indian agriculture. He said that Bihar produces 50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and 20 lakh metric tonnes of maize. He also pointed out that Bihar was the third largest producer of vegetables and seventh largest producer of fruits. He said that 75 per cent of the litchi is produced in Bihar and there are 10 lakh metric tonnes of banana and 20 lakh metric tonnes of `makhana' produced in the state.
Sinha said that Bihar has massive opportunities for rice-based industry like modern rice milling and husk-based power plants and it is the largest market for milled rice. He also pointed towards the potentiality of maize-based industry such as starch, poultry feed, corn oil and flakes and flour units. He said that the state has decided to develop two integrated food zones and food parks and would set up 100 rural agribusiness centres.
He also spoke about the enabling factors -- Bihar is the first state in the country to prepare a vision document and has come out with a very attractive policy package. He said that the state has launched two major schemes for investment in food processing sector. The first provides capital grant up to 40 per cent of the project cost, the maximum being Rs 10 crore. The second scheme for food parks provides a capital grant up to 20 per cent, maximum Rs 15 crore.link
While interacting with the participants, Sinha said that the government has geared up to achieve that. He said that the industry department has so far undertaken five road shows in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Begusarai and Kolkata for highlighting the strong areas of food processing to different investors.
Sinha mentioned the new schemes launched by the Bihar government and stressed that the National Commission for Farmers has dubbed Bihar the `sleeping giant' of Indian agriculture. He said that Bihar produces 50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and 20 lakh metric tonnes of maize. He also pointed out that Bihar was the third largest producer of vegetables and seventh largest producer of fruits. He said that 75 per cent of the litchi is produced in Bihar and there are 10 lakh metric tonnes of banana and 20 lakh metric tonnes of `makhana' produced in the state.
Sinha said that Bihar has massive opportunities for rice-based industry like modern rice milling and husk-based power plants and it is the largest market for milled rice. He also pointed towards the potentiality of maize-based industry such as starch, poultry feed, corn oil and flakes and flour units. He said that the state has decided to develop two integrated food zones and food parks and would set up 100 rural agribusiness centres.
He also spoke about the enabling factors -- Bihar is the first state in the country to prepare a vision document and has come out with a very attractive policy package. He said that the state has launched two major schemes for investment in food processing sector. The first provides capital grant up to 40 per cent of the project cost, the maximum being Rs 10 crore. The second scheme for food parks provides a capital grant up to 20 per cent, maximum Rs 15 crore.link
Saturday 25 July 2009
Bangalore’s Fashion Week showcases glitz and glamour
On the second day of Bangalore’s first-ever Fashion Week, conniesuers of life-style witnessed extensive glamour, style and colour.
Designer Samant Chauhan presented his collection woven in silk from Bhagalpur region of Bihar. Thus he enabled promotion of fabrics of marginalised weavers.
‘It’s my signature style that I use Bhagalpur silk. This time, I have used linen, which is again, weaved in Bhaglpur. The collection name was ‘Green Collar’. ‘Green Collar’ is new concept which most of designers are working now-days like, how you can use more eco-friendly fabric and eco-friendly dyes. There is no colour in my collection. So, I am not using any chemical. It’s all 100 percent natural,’ said Chauhan.
Model-turned television actor Julfi Syed walked the ramp for Chauhan’s collection.
Designers Ramesh Demla showcased exquisite collection of colourful Indo-western apparels.
The four-day event will have thirty designers, sixty models and 11 hours of fashion. It will conclude on July 26.
The Fashion Week comes after the success of the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata Fashion Weeks and the organisers hope to do good business during the event.link
Designer Samant Chauhan presented his collection woven in silk from Bhagalpur region of Bihar. Thus he enabled promotion of fabrics of marginalised weavers.
‘It’s my signature style that I use Bhagalpur silk. This time, I have used linen, which is again, weaved in Bhaglpur. The collection name was ‘Green Collar’. ‘Green Collar’ is new concept which most of designers are working now-days like, how you can use more eco-friendly fabric and eco-friendly dyes. There is no colour in my collection. So, I am not using any chemical. It’s all 100 percent natural,’ said Chauhan.
Model-turned television actor Julfi Syed walked the ramp for Chauhan’s collection.
Designers Ramesh Demla showcased exquisite collection of colourful Indo-western apparels.
The four-day event will have thirty designers, sixty models and 11 hours of fashion. It will conclude on July 26.
The Fashion Week comes after the success of the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata Fashion Weeks and the organisers hope to do good business during the event.link
Friday 5 June 2009
Bihar denied chance to set up mega food parks
The Union food processing ministry has not included Bihar in the list of 10 states which would have mega food parks. The state has thus been denied the opportunity to establish two such parks at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur.
Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, during his tenure as the junior Union minister in the department, had announced at a state potato conference held at Patna in the mid-2008 that two mega food parks would be set up at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur with the support of the Centre.
The state NDA government had assigned the job of setting up two mega food parks to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) right from conceptualisation to commissioning.
The state government had framed its food processing policy in December 2008 with a pledge to develop at least two mini food parks at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. It had also announced a scheme for integrated development of the food processing sector.
In its food processing policy, the state government had said that the state has an excellent climate with fertile soil and abundant water for cultivation of a diverse range of food grains, fruits and vegetables. No wonder, the state is the largest producer of delicious litchi and nutritious makhana.
Sensing a political reason for non-inclusion of Bihar among the states to have mega food parks, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told that Bihar-born Subodh Kant Sahay was elected MP from Jharkhand and as a UPA minister, he included Jharkhand among the 10 states where mega food parks would be established.
Modi said that the Bihar government would renew its demand before the Centre for establishment of two mega food parks in the state.
IL&FS agronomist Amitabh Bhattacharya said the central scheme for setting up mega food parks was more lucrative as it had a provision for a grant of Rs 50 crore or 50 per cent of the total project, whichever is minimum, to the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
But the Bihar government, despite having less resources, has announced providing Rs 15 crore or 20 per cent of the total project cost, whichever is less, to the SPV under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for setting up the mini food park.
At Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, a piece of land has been earmarked for setting up a mini food park, but Bihar Agro Products, which was selected as its SPV, does not have enough fund to go for it, Bhattacharya said.
On the other hand, land has not yet been made available at Muzaffarpur for the establishment of a mini food park, he said, adding that two industrialists engaged in food processing industry and K P S Keshri and Kedia brothers are interested in getting the job of the SPV, but they lack fund.
He said local entrepreneurs were initially urged to become SPV. Investors from other states would be interested only if the Centre includes Bihar under its lucrative grant for setting up mega food parks, he added. link
Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, during his tenure as the junior Union minister in the department, had announced at a state potato conference held at Patna in the mid-2008 that two mega food parks would be set up at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur with the support of the Centre.
The state NDA government had assigned the job of setting up two mega food parks to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) right from conceptualisation to commissioning.
The state government had framed its food processing policy in December 2008 with a pledge to develop at least two mini food parks at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. It had also announced a scheme for integrated development of the food processing sector.
In its food processing policy, the state government had said that the state has an excellent climate with fertile soil and abundant water for cultivation of a diverse range of food grains, fruits and vegetables. No wonder, the state is the largest producer of delicious litchi and nutritious makhana.
Sensing a political reason for non-inclusion of Bihar among the states to have mega food parks, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told that Bihar-born Subodh Kant Sahay was elected MP from Jharkhand and as a UPA minister, he included Jharkhand among the 10 states where mega food parks would be established.
Modi said that the Bihar government would renew its demand before the Centre for establishment of two mega food parks in the state.
IL&FS agronomist Amitabh Bhattacharya said the central scheme for setting up mega food parks was more lucrative as it had a provision for a grant of Rs 50 crore or 50 per cent of the total project, whichever is minimum, to the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
But the Bihar government, despite having less resources, has announced providing Rs 15 crore or 20 per cent of the total project cost, whichever is less, to the SPV under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for setting up the mini food park.
At Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, a piece of land has been earmarked for setting up a mini food park, but Bihar Agro Products, which was selected as its SPV, does not have enough fund to go for it, Bhattacharya said.
On the other hand, land has not yet been made available at Muzaffarpur for the establishment of a mini food park, he said, adding that two industrialists engaged in food processing industry and K P S Keshri and Kedia brothers are interested in getting the job of the SPV, but they lack fund.
He said local entrepreneurs were initially urged to become SPV. Investors from other states would be interested only if the Centre includes Bihar under its lucrative grant for setting up mega food parks, he added. link
Friday 22 May 2009
Some relief for Bihar’s arsenic hit villages
High levels of arsenic in the groundwater pose the threat of cancer to people in many Bihar villages, but the state government has finally moved to bring safe drinking water from the Ganga river to some of these areas.
‘Multi-village water supply projects’ have been given the green signal in 200 arsenic-affected villages in three districts.
“The multivillage water supply projects would be launched soon and completed under a timeframe,” said Public Health Engineering Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey.
The projects will cover 130 arsenic-affected villages of Simri block in Buxar district, 45 villages of Bidupur block in Vaishali district and 25 villages of Maner block in Patna district.
D.S. Mishra, an official in the department, said the government would provide safe drinking water from the Ganga to villages affected by arsenic.
“First, the surface water (in the river) will be treated to remove harmful substances and then it will be supplied,” Mishra said. He said the treatment of groundwater containing arsenic was costly and not sustainable.
The state government admitted early this year that high levels of arsenic have been found in the groundwater of 15 Bihar districts on either side of the Ganga river, posing the threat of cancer, an official said.
“A total of 57 blocks on both sides of the Ganga are affected by high levels of arsenic in the groundwater,” he said.
Arsenic causes cancer of the intestines, liver, kidneys and bladder as well as gangrene. People in several villages are suffering from bone deformation and a variety of skin problems.
“In some affected villages, people have complained of weakening and bending of the bones and dreadful rashes and lumps on the skin,” a health expert said.
Arsenic, an odourless and tasteless semi-metal element, occurs naturally in the environment and sometimes as a by-product of agriculture and industry.
An official said the worst affected districts are Bhojpur, Buxar, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, Chapra, Munger and Darbhanga and Patna.link
Among these, Harail Chapar, a village in Samastipur district, recorded the highest levels of arsenic - 2,100 parts per billion (ppb) - in groundwater, the official added. The World Health Organisation guideline for a safe limit is 10 ppb, while the Indian government’s guideline is 50 ppb.
The official said a survey conducted in the arsenic affected districts reveals that the deeper aquifers lying below 80 metres were free of arsenic.
Last year, a state government report based on a survey of water samples collected at random from 19,961 tubewells in 398 villages found that arsenic concentration was above 10 ppb in 310 villages and above 50 ppb in 235 villages.
‘Multi-village water supply projects’ have been given the green signal in 200 arsenic-affected villages in three districts.
“The multivillage water supply projects would be launched soon and completed under a timeframe,” said Public Health Engineering Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey.
The projects will cover 130 arsenic-affected villages of Simri block in Buxar district, 45 villages of Bidupur block in Vaishali district and 25 villages of Maner block in Patna district.
D.S. Mishra, an official in the department, said the government would provide safe drinking water from the Ganga to villages affected by arsenic.
“First, the surface water (in the river) will be treated to remove harmful substances and then it will be supplied,” Mishra said. He said the treatment of groundwater containing arsenic was costly and not sustainable.
The state government admitted early this year that high levels of arsenic have been found in the groundwater of 15 Bihar districts on either side of the Ganga river, posing the threat of cancer, an official said.
“A total of 57 blocks on both sides of the Ganga are affected by high levels of arsenic in the groundwater,” he said.
Arsenic causes cancer of the intestines, liver, kidneys and bladder as well as gangrene. People in several villages are suffering from bone deformation and a variety of skin problems.
“In some affected villages, people have complained of weakening and bending of the bones and dreadful rashes and lumps on the skin,” a health expert said.
Arsenic, an odourless and tasteless semi-metal element, occurs naturally in the environment and sometimes as a by-product of agriculture and industry.
An official said the worst affected districts are Bhojpur, Buxar, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, Chapra, Munger and Darbhanga and Patna.link
Among these, Harail Chapar, a village in Samastipur district, recorded the highest levels of arsenic - 2,100 parts per billion (ppb) - in groundwater, the official added. The World Health Organisation guideline for a safe limit is 10 ppb, while the Indian government’s guideline is 50 ppb.
The official said a survey conducted in the arsenic affected districts reveals that the deeper aquifers lying below 80 metres were free of arsenic.
Last year, a state government report based on a survey of water samples collected at random from 19,961 tubewells in 398 villages found that arsenic concentration was above 10 ppb in 310 villages and above 50 ppb in 235 villages.
Friday 20 February 2009
Bihar to provide Rs 15-cr grant for food parks in Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur
The Bihar government has decided to provide a grant of Rs 15 crore to entrepreneurs and investors interested in developing food parks in Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur as special purpose vehicle (SPV) in fruit and vegetable clusters.
“We have decided to give a grant of Rs 15 crore to those interested in developing the food parks as SPV in fruits and vegetables,'' state Industries minister, Mr D C Yadav said on Friday.
The proposed food parks would have common infrastructure and research and development, he said, adding the food parks would serve to create modern enabling infrastructure for food processing units in the state with farm-to-market linkages.
Mr Yadav said the initiatives were being made under the Bihar Food Processing Policy, 2009, to boost the agriculture sector.link
“We have decided to give a grant of Rs 15 crore to those interested in developing the food parks as SPV in fruits and vegetables,'' state Industries minister, Mr D C Yadav said on Friday.
The proposed food parks would have common infrastructure and research and development, he said, adding the food parks would serve to create modern enabling infrastructure for food processing units in the state with farm-to-market linkages.
Mr Yadav said the initiatives were being made under the Bihar Food Processing Policy, 2009, to boost the agriculture sector.link
Saturday 31 January 2009
Lalu to gift a railway division to his home district
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad is set to gift his home district, Gopalganj in Bihar, a railway division before the next Lok Sabha polls.After Lalu Prasad’s ancestral village Phulwaria is connected with his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi’s Salar Kalan village, Lalu now plans to give another rare gift to Bihar by announcing the establishment of a railway division in Thawe at Gopalganj.
“Thawe would have a new railway division,” Lalu said Saturday. He was on a visit to his native village Phulwaria and hinted that he would announce the establishment of the division in his last railway budget to be presented later in February.
According to railway officials, Lalu asked senior officials to prepare necessary ground for creation of a new railway division at Thawe in Gopalganj.
Thawe has a railway station at present and is not far from Lalu’s birth place Phulwaria and his wife’s birthplace Salar Kalan.
Thawe railway division will be part of the East Central Railway zone headquarters at Hajipur in Bihar.
Lalu also announced establishing of a new railway division in Bhagalpur. “Both Thawe and Bhagalpur would be headed by divisional railway managers.”
During his five year term as a Railways Minister, Lalu has gifted several projects and dozens of new trains to Bihar. He recently said that the Indian Railways are investing Rs.550 billion (Rs.55,000 crore) in Bihar for execution of various railway projects to usher “a new era of development”. link
“Thawe would have a new railway division,” Lalu said Saturday. He was on a visit to his native village Phulwaria and hinted that he would announce the establishment of the division in his last railway budget to be presented later in February.
According to railway officials, Lalu asked senior officials to prepare necessary ground for creation of a new railway division at Thawe in Gopalganj.
Thawe has a railway station at present and is not far from Lalu’s birth place Phulwaria and his wife’s birthplace Salar Kalan.
Thawe railway division will be part of the East Central Railway zone headquarters at Hajipur in Bihar.
Lalu also announced establishing of a new railway division in Bhagalpur. “Both Thawe and Bhagalpur would be headed by divisional railway managers.”
During his five year term as a Railways Minister, Lalu has gifted several projects and dozens of new trains to Bihar. He recently said that the Indian Railways are investing Rs.550 billion (Rs.55,000 crore) in Bihar for execution of various railway projects to usher “a new era of development”. link
Friday 30 January 2009
Four die in Bihar hospital as strike cripples medical services
Four patients died in a Bihar hospital Thursday as health services were crippled due to the ongoing indefinite strike by the government employees including health officials, officials said Friday.
A young woman who had just given birth, was one of the four patients who died due to lack of treatment at Jawahar Lal Nehru medical college and hospital in Bhagalpur district.
Official sources said Nisha Devi, in her 20s, died due to excess bleeding following child-birth in the absence of proper treatment. She was admitted to the hospital Thursday morning. Three other patients also died due to lack of medical attention.
The functioning of the state government offices including the health department have been hit by the ongoing indefinite strike by government employees, which continued for the 24th day Friday, officials here said.
"The strike has crippled medical services across the state, which has most hit poor people who have no money to go to private hospitals for treatment," an official of the state health department admitted.
Reports reaching here from different district headquarters say functioning of hospitals has been affected due to the strike.
More than 300,000 government employees went on strike in Bihar, demanding implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in "letter and spirit", after the failure of talks with Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio.
Modi, who refused to accept the demands because of a funds crunch, has ruled out any possibility of the state government negotiating with the striking employees.
Earlier this week, when employees refused demands to return to work, the government hinted at disciplinary action against the strikers.
It has also served them with show-cause notices and officials said action could be taken against those who do not reply to the notices. link
A young woman who had just given birth, was one of the four patients who died due to lack of treatment at Jawahar Lal Nehru medical college and hospital in Bhagalpur district.
Official sources said Nisha Devi, in her 20s, died due to excess bleeding following child-birth in the absence of proper treatment. She was admitted to the hospital Thursday morning. Three other patients also died due to lack of medical attention.
The functioning of the state government offices including the health department have been hit by the ongoing indefinite strike by government employees, which continued for the 24th day Friday, officials here said.
"The strike has crippled medical services across the state, which has most hit poor people who have no money to go to private hospitals for treatment," an official of the state health department admitted.
Reports reaching here from different district headquarters say functioning of hospitals has been affected due to the strike.
More than 300,000 government employees went on strike in Bihar, demanding implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in "letter and spirit", after the failure of talks with Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio.
Modi, who refused to accept the demands because of a funds crunch, has ruled out any possibility of the state government negotiating with the striking employees.
Earlier this week, when employees refused demands to return to work, the government hinted at disciplinary action against the strikers.
It has also served them with show-cause notices and officials said action could be taken against those who do not reply to the notices. link
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