Mumbai: Soon, annual health check-ups will be mandatory for students from all govt, govt-aided, municipal and zilla parishad schools. Health cards will be created for all students and details from every health check-up will be uploaded in an online app developed by the public health department. If students require further medical treatment after the health check-up, all necessary advanced medical treatments, surgeries will be provided free of cost.
The govt issued a resolution on Tuesday announcing the implementation of the National Child Health Programme in the state through the public health department. The programme was launched nationally to improve survival, development and quality of life of children in the age group of 0 to 18 years through early detection of diseases, deficiencies or disabilities. During a meeting held in the state to discuss the implementation of the programme, the state’s public health department was instructed to develop an online app to create health cards for all students. The health cards will have up-to-date information on all students.
Schools have been asked to inform parents to be present during the health check-up. They will also have to ensure that health examinations are conducted using safe and updated technology by the medical team under the national programme. After the health check-ups, principals have been asked to maintain records of any ailments and treatments, and once a tracking system is made available, schools will also have to keep online records. Principals should also ensure 100% attendance during these health examinations and if any students need further treatment at the taluka or district level hospital, arrangements should be made.
As per the national programme, screening teams established at the taluka level, consisting of two medical officers, a pharmacist, and a nurse, will be visiting Anganwadi centres and schools to examine the children.
To implement the student health check-up programme more effectively, committees formed at district levels will be preparing a year-round schedule for health examinations across all talukas. If students require further medical treatment after the check-up, necessary planning should be done and regular reviews will have to be conducted.

Kolkata: In a significant breakthrough against illegal arms trafficking at the India-Bangladesh border, the Bengal STF arrested two persons and seized a substantial cache of firearms and ammunition during a raid in Basirhat on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 252 rounds of ammunition was seized, said SP (operations) Indrajit Basu.
Acting on intelligence, the STF team initially conducted a raid near Sishona Das Para, and arrested Diptajit Sen (29) and Kajal Mukherjee (40), both residents of Choto Jirakpur. During interrogation, the two revealed they had concealed illegal firearms and ammunition in their residences.
At Sen’s residence, officers recovered one 7mm semi-automatic pistol along with numerous live rounds of ammunition. A similar search at Mukherjee’s house yielded another 7mm semi-automatic pistol and additional ammunition stocks. The recovered ammunition comprised 132 rounds of 7.65mm calibre, 115 rounds of .32 calibre, and 5 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
“This operation represents a major success in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking in the India-Bangladesh border region,” said a senior STF officer. “The quantity and variety of ammunition recovered suggest links to a larger network of arms dealers operating in the area.”
Basirhat police station registered a case against both suspects following a complaint from the STF. They were produced before the ACJM Court in Basirhat and taken into police custody.

Berhampur: The 25-day-long biennial Thakurani Yatra, a vibrant and historic festival in Berhampur, concluded early Tuesday morning with the ceremonial return of Maa Budhi Thakurani to her temple. The deity, revered as the presiding goddess of the city, began her return journey from her temporary abode at Desibehera Street around midnight on Monday.
Thousands of devotees lined the streets through the night, with many — including women from far-flung areas of Odisha and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh — waiting for hours to take part in the sacred ghata (earthen pot) procession. The ritual, in which hundreds of women carried symbolic pots as part of the farewell ceremony, continued until 9:30 am near the deity’s temple.
Around 11 platoons of forces and 50 officers were deployed in the city to maintain law and order and manage the crowd. “We made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the peaceful conclusion of the festival,” said Saravana Vivek M, SP (Berhampur). No untoward incidents were reported, he said.
The festival began on April 3 with the goddess’s symbolic visit to her paternal home at Desibehera Street, which was marked by the setting up of a temporary temple. Over the 25 days, the city transformed into a canvas of colours, lights, and culture. Locals and visitors alike took part in thematic performances, donning elaborate costumes to portray mythological figures, animals, and even Buddhist monks.
Street after street turned into open-air stages — from the banar sena of Sri Ram parading through Gandhi Nagar and Tulasi Nagar, to Guru Nanak and his followers in Dalua Street. In Bijipur, people dressed as Lord Buddha and monks led a peace-themed procession. “World peace and communal harmony is the core message of our attire,” said Tuku Dalai, one of the organisers of the Buddha monk procession, which saw participation from around 70 people chanting hymns on Sunday.