NEW DELHI, 29 Jul: About 50,000 people lose their lives every year due to snakebite in the country, the highest in the world, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy said on Monday.
Every year, 30-40 lakh people are bitten by snakes across India, the Saran MP said, raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on matters of importance.
“Bihar is the poorest state, enduring both poverty and natural calamities. Across India, 30 to 40 lakh people are bitten by snakes and 50,000 people die, which is the highest in the world,” Rudy said, emphasising the alarming mortality rate from snakebite.
He stressed that many deaths could be prevented, pointing to the climate change impact on snakebite incidents that increased at temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius.
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur raised concern about corruption in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) supplementary nutrition programme in Punjab and claimed that fake beneficiaries were allegedly receiving aid through private entities.
“I want to bring to the women and child development ministry’s attention that there is corruption in the ICDS supplementary nutrition programme in Punjab, where aid is being given to fake beneficiaries through private entities,” Kaur said, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.
She also pointed out that 28 lakh Anganwadi workers were paid only Rs. 2,200 per month, calling it below standard and demanding justice for mothers and children. (PTI)