High snakebite deaths: MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy highlights issue in Lok Sabha

In a recent Lok Sabha session, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy raised concerns about the alarming number of snakebite fatalities in India, stating that the country experiences approximately 50,000 deaths annually due to snakebites - the highest in the world.

He noted that 3 to 4 million people suffer snakebites across India each year.

Highlighting the severity of the issue, Rudy pointed out that many of these deaths could be preventable and linked the rise in snakebite incidents to climate conditions, specifically noting an increase when temperatures exceed 28 degrees Celsius. He also emphasized the broader socio-economic challenges faced by states like Bihar, which grapple with both poverty and natural calamities.

The session also saw contributions from other MPs on various issues.

M Kathir Anand, Vellore MP, expressed concern for beedi workers, predominantly women, and called for an increase in their wages and better central funding. He stressed the need for pensions for workers over 60, given their exposure to dust and other occupational hazards.

Vijay Vasanth, Kanyakumari MP, advocated for an increase in the quota of annual recommendations to 150 to better assist the public and urged the government to re-evaluate the Ayushman Bharat scheme to ensure comprehensive medical expense coverage.

Harsimrat Kaur, Bathinda MP, raised allegations of corruption within Punjab's Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), specifically within the supplementary nutrition program. She claimed that aid was being improperly distributed to fake beneficiaries via private entities and called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. Kaur also highlighted the low wages of Anganwadi workers, advocating for better compensation and justice for mothers and children.

S Jothimani, Karur MP, voiced opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), arguing that the test exacerbates socioeconomic disparities, making higher education accessible primarily to those who can afford costly preparatory measures. She highlighted the tragic cases of student suicides linked to NEET in Tamil Nadu and called for the exam's abolition, citing reduced admission rates for students from rural areas.

Nishikant Dubey, Godda MP, brought attention to the issue of Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, alleging that they are being usurped by "Bangladeshi immigrants." He recounted incidents of police violence against Adivasis protesting for their rights and called for the imposition of the president's rule in Jharkhand, accusing the state government of deliberately settling Bangladeshi immigrants in the region.