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Govt announces scheme to provide pension for dependents of COVID-19 victims

Besides family pensions, insurance benefits under the Employees” Deposit-Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme have been enhanced and liberalised. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said these steps will help mitigate financial difficulties faced by these families.

To help these families live a life of dignity and maintain a good standard of living, the benefit of the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) pension scheme for employment-related death cases is being extended to even those who have died due to Covid, the PMO said in a statement.

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African Swine Fever continues to wreak havoc in Mizoram

The ASF outbreak has caused a loss of Rs 18.60 crore to the farmers of the state, said Dr Lalhmingthanga, the Joint Director (Livestock Health) at the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Department.

The first pig death due to ASF was reported on March 21 at Lungsen village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district, bordering Bangladesh, he said.

Since then the dreaded pig disease has spread to nine districts — Aizawl, Lunglei, Mamit, Serchhip, Lawngtlai, Khawzawl, Hnahthial, Siaha and Champhai.

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India wearables market touches 11.4 mn units in March 2021 quarter: IDC

From style to health monitoring, the wearables have now become one of the most sophisticated devices in recent times. The category is witnessing a constant shift in the competitive landscape with new players entering the segment. The second wave of the pandemic has caused a sudden stir across vendors and channel partners, impacting the planned launches to postpone and delay in deliveries,” Jaipal Singh, Associate Research Manager (Client Devices) at IDC India, said.

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Daily COVID-19 count in India lowest in 44 days, daily death toll at 3,660 

The daily positivity rate has declined to 9 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for four consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate has further declined to 10.42 per cent. Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 15th consecutive day, it said. The active cases have further reduced to 23,43,152 comprising 8.50 per cent of the total infections with a net decline of 76,755 cases in the active caseload in 24 hours, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 90.34 per cent.

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Burnout and depression spiral among India’s traumatised doctors

The number of doctors for every 10,000 people in India has fallen to around nine in 2019 from 12 in 1991, according to data on World Health Organization’s website, while the country’s health expenditure was just 3.54% of GDP, lower than countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, China and Kenya.

India must now strengthen its health system by investing in hard infrastructure and human resources and making its data transparent, said Yamini Aiyar, the president of the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research.

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Digital divide is there but incorrect to say villages are left out, says CoWIN chief

“The very fact more than half the population in the age group of 45+ are walk-ins and are getting vaccinated, it is proof enough of inclusivity of the system. Obviously problem is occurring in 18- 45 age group because of the fact that supply of vaccine is low. Let me tell you this problem is also a temporary problem, this problem will go away let’s have a little bit of a patience,” he added.

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GST Council leaves tax rate on COVID vaccines unchanged; exempts duty on black fungus medicine

The GST Council, which is headed by the Union Finance Minister and comprises representatives of all states and union territories, exempted levy of I-GST on import of Amphotericin-B, which is used for the treatment of black fungus. Currently, vaccines attract 5 per cent GST.

Sitharaman said the Council decided to continue a waiver of I-GST on free COVID-19 related supplies imported from abroad.

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Airlines can operate only 50% of Pre-COVID domestic flights from June 1: Centre

The government also has extended the ban on international commercial flights till 30 June, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a circular on Friday. The ban on scheduled overseas flights was to end on 31 May after a 14-month gap.The decision has been taken “in view of the sudden surge in the number of active COVID-19 cases across the country, decrease in passenger traffic and passenger load factor (occupancy rate)”, the ministry said in an order.

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