Dr. Raj Tayal

Jaipur, July 17 (IANS) The Rajasthan government has suspended all religious processions including the taking out of the holy Kavad yatra which is being organised in Shravan month in different states of India. The government has alsoe banned gatherings in the wake of religious festivals lined up in this month.The directions have been given in the wake of COVID third wave warning which is expected to hit the nation by August-end.As per the Unlock-5 guidelines issued by the State Home Department to be implemented from Saturday morning, several states including Uttarakhand from where the holy Kavad yatra starts, have banned the procession due to Covid.Looking at the chances of crowd gathering in the yatra, the state government does not permit the holy procession in the state, says the guideline.It further adds that all religious tours, including Kavad Yatra and gathering on Eid-ul-Zuha to offer prayers, are not allowed in the state.No gathering will be permitted for celebrating Chaturmas Festival too, which is basically celebrated by the Jain community, it says further.The guideline also mentions that all such religious pilgrimages and processions etc, will not be allowed in the state as it can cause overcrowding, increasing chances of spreading COVID infection rate.The state government has also restricted the opening of swimming pools in the state.Apart from this, public parks will be allowed to open from 5.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. however, those who have been vaccinated with the first dose, will be allowed to visit the public parks from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.The guideline mentions that COVID appropriate behaviour is a must to be followed in shops, markets, malls, restaurants, railway stations etc and other public places and those flouting the same will be penalised. --IANSarc/skp/

Jaipur, July 14 (IANS) We all are familiar with ‘Kumbhakarna, the Ramayana character who used to sleep six months a year. However, a real-life Kumbhakarna is garnering attention these days in Rajasthan's Nagaur district for sleeping 300 days a year!This 42-year-old man named Purkharam suffers from a rare sleeping disorder known as Axis Hypersomnia. While normal people usually sleep for six to eight hours a day or maybe nine hours, Purkharam can sleep for 20-25 days at a stretch once he takes a nap.According to medical studies, Axis Hypersomnia occurs when there is fluctuation in the protein of the brain called TNF-alpha.Around 23 years back, Purkharam was first diagnosed with this rare syndrome, and since then his condition has affected his lifestyle as well as well-being. Once he sleeps, it becomes difficult for him to wake up. In fact, his family members perform the everyday chores for him, including feeding and bathing him when he's asleep.Due to his disease, he runs a small grocery shop in his village for five days a month. Even when sitting at his shop, he falls asleep many times while at work.In the initial days, Purkharam used to sleep for 15 hours a day. His family had sought medical help, but his disease could not be cured. By 2015, his condition continued to aggravate as his period of sleep increased by many hours and later by several days.Purkharam says that he remains fatigued most of the time and his productivity remains nil. He also has headaches despite taking medication and sleeping excessively.However, Purkharam's wife Lichmi Devi and his mother Kanvari Devi hope that he will recover soon and start living a normal life like before.Kanvari Devi says the family is also into farming which helps them meet day-to-day expenses. However, she remains tensed thinking about the future of her son and two granddaughters. --IANSarc/arm

Jaipur, June 17 (IANS) After Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, Rajasthan has become the fourth state to inoculate over 2 crore vaccination people in the state.State Health Minister Raghu Sharma congratulated officers and employees associated with vaccination on administration of 2 crore vaccination doses in the state under Covid-19 vaccination programme. He has called upon the vaccination personnel to work sincerely in future too with the same diligence and enthusiasm and help people in saving from the effects of Covid-19 virus.Over 1,62,95,718 people have been inoculated with the first dose of corona vaccine and 34,92,989 people have been administered the second dose as per the data till Tuesday evening. He said that 4,99,421 health workers were administered the first dose and 3,87,065 have been administered the second dose in the state till Tuesday. Similarly, 5,71,891 frontline workers and 4,03,502 have been administered first and second doses respectively.The Health Minister said that 36,60,873 people and 1,813 people in the 18-44 years age group in the state have been administered first and second dose of the vaccine respectively.Similarly, 60,65,648 people have received the first dose and 9,26,283 people have received the second dose of the corona vaccine in the age group of 45-59 years. In the age group of 60 years and above, 54,96,885 people and 17,74,326 have received the first and second dose of the vaccine respectively.Sharma said that the vaccination coverage in the state has touched the 2 crore mark till Wednesday afternoon. He said that the state has developed the capacity of administering nearly 7 lakh vaccines every day. Vaccine doses are being administered continuously with receipt of vaccine doses. The vaccine wastage is only 0.8 per cent in the State and continuous efforts are being made to bring the wastage to zero, he added.--IANSarc/rs

Jaipur, June 12 (IANS) The Rajasthan government on Saturday announced a financial relief package for the children who lost their parents to the Covid pandemic, fixing an amount Rs 2,500 per month for them till they turn 18.Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also announced Rs 5 lakh lump sum assistance on completion of 18 years and free higher secondary education, besides other benefits proposed under the Mukhyamantri Corona Bal Kalyan Yojna.Under the package, an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh and a pension of Rs 1,500 per month will also be provided to the women who lost their husbands to the infection, according to an official statement.Also, Rs 1,000 a month per child will be provided to the children of these widows, besides Rs 2,500 per month for purchasing their text books and school uniforms, the statement said.The package also has a provision of Rs 1 lakh as immediate grant to the children, who lost their parents to Covid, the statement said. --IANSarc/arm