Tuesday Titbits

Mumbai is reeling under rains for last two days, so on rainy afternoon of this Tuesday I would like to share few titbits with you;

1. There was a report in the media that in India Cardiac death rate has gone up by almost 35% in last 25 years, while in USA it has declined.  The death rate due to Cardiac Vascular Diseases (CVD) declined by 41% in USA between 1990 and 2016, while in India it rose by 34% from 115 deaths per lakh death to 209 deaths per 1 lakh death in same period. The declining rate in USA was due to the Health Services emphasis on  risk of using tobacco products, high cholesterol level and high blood pressure. As per the report in the year 2016 only there was loss of 62.5 million years of life lost in India prematurely due to CVD deaths while in the USA the loss was only 12.5 million years. The World health Organisation has set the goal of reducing the risk of premature deaths in the age group of 39 to 69 due to non communicable diseases, including cardiac disorders by 25% by  2025. Heart disease and stroke  are estimated to account for deaths ranging from 15-20% in India and 6-9% in the USA. In India the death rates due to cardiac disease varies from state to state with Punjab having the highest  and Mizoram has the least.                         This only means in health care we are still very much behind the developed countries. The prime reason is that our health care system controlled by govt  is in very poor shape, and where as health care managed by  private sector is beyond the reach of even middle class forget about the poor class. In all the developed countries the health care is generally state controlled and most of the citizens are paying for their health care through their health insurance or it is funded by state. In either way when you are admitted to hospital for any health problem, you do not have to worry about the expenses. Here in India, even you have health insurance of certain amount then also there is limit on expenses like room charges, surgeon fees, medicine expenses, diagnostic expenses etc and in certain cases you are not reimbursed  for any preexisting disease ,expenses on dental procedures , healthcare diagnostic tests etc. In India there are many deaths which could be saved but due to very expensive health care, life is lost. Till we improve our health care system, all these types of reports and surveys have no meanings.
2. Recently I read a very interesting piece of information on the social media. This is about India’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’s memories, which he described to Prem Shankar Jha. Incident is about J & K issue after partition. On getting the information that Pakistani may attack Kashmir territory, till then Maharaja of  J&K  had not signed accession treaty with India. In anticipation that Maharaja in the end will sign the treaty with India, then how the  Indian forces will defend the Kashmir from Pakistanis. So  Gen Roy Bucher deputed Manekshaw, who was Colonel at that time, to visit Srinagar along with Govt representative VP Menon(who later became Defence Minister of India) to access the military situation. Col Manekshaw was then the Directorate of Military Operations, and he knew the tribemen had already entered the Kashmir, which were supported by Pakistanis. In Maharaja forces there were 50% Muslims and 50% Dogras, most of the Muslim forces had revolted and joined Pakistani army. It was learnt that tribesmen were  around 5 miles away from Srinagar. It was certain at that time if Indian forces had to defend Kashmir then Army men had to be flown. After the situation was explained to Maharaja, he signed the accession treaty, with a promise that Indian Army will defend Kashmir.                                                                                   After coming back to Delhi, Manekshaw briefed Gen Bucher, who asked him to go and attend the cabinet meeting later in the day. The cabinet meeting was presided by Lord Mountbatten, there was Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Sardar Baldev singh (then Defence Minister) and other ministers whom Manekshaw did not know.When the meeting started Patel gave the accession paper to  Mountbatten, who then asked Manekshaw about military situation, which was explained to cabinet and told that we have to take action immediately and troops have to be flown immediately. Every thing was kept ready at the airport, only formal order was awaited. But Nehru as usual was dilly dalling and he started talking about  United Nations, Russia, Africa, God almighty etc etc, until Sardar Patel lost his temper and shouted and said” Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir or do you want to give away”.Then Nehru said ” Of course I want Kashmir. Then Patel said ” Please give your orders”. And before Nehru could say  any thing, Patel told Manekshaw ” You have your orders, please proceed” After this the troop were flown to Kashmir and  Pakistani & Tribals were defeated .                                                         Friends, I do not know how many of youare aware of this part of our history, atleast I  was not knowing about this before I read this information. And after Sardar Patel’s death what happened to Kashmir, and how it was buggered up by the PM Nehru and every Congress PM after him is very well known to all.

In today’s blog I have covered 2 divergent pieces of information, friends I hope you like it.

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