Punjab has become the first State in the country to start the project of safe management of medical waste under the guidance of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
ludhiana will be launched as first model district of the country on Monday in the presence of UNIDO MD Philippe R. Scholtes, Project Manager Erlinda Galvan and Regional Coordinator in India Dr SP Dhua as well as concerned state authorities.
In a meeting held here here, Anurag Verma, Secretary Science & Technology said that Punjab Government is already implementing the Bio-Medical Waste Rules prescribed by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
He asked the UNIDO authorities to underline the shortcomings which could be rectified. It is a matter of great concern that nothing is included in the curriculum of medical and nursing students about bio medical waste, he said.
Verma asked the authorities to provide the martial to be included in the syllabus of medical and nursing students so that he can take up the matter with the medical education and research department.
Briefing about the project, UNIDO MD Philippe R. Scholtes said that color coding dust bins of certain specifications and training would be provided by the UNIDO in each model district. He said that ludhiana is the first district where it would be launched in India and each district would be launched in Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha and Maharashtra.
Informing about the financial status of the project, UNIDO Regional Coordinator Dr. SP Dhua said that each state would be provided the assistance of Rs 13.4 crore in cash and kind in installments. He appreciated Punjab authorities for showing keen interest to implement this project as a result the State has been given 85 lakh so for maximum in the country.